District 140, Montana

Extremely rugged, heavily forested mountain terrain ranging from approximately 3,000 to 8,700 feet in elevation. The district spans roughly 791 square miles of deeply incised river drainages, subalpine ridgelines, and steep canyon walls flanking Hungry Horse Reservoir and the South Fork Flathead River. Lower elevations feature riparian bottoms with alder brush fields and devil's club thickets; upper elevations transition to subalpine fir and rocky alpine terrain near Continental Divide ridges. The district shares a boundary with Glacier National Park along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River to the north.

The district is 93–100% publicly owned Flathead National Forest land (Spotted Bear Ranger District and Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District) with minimal private inholdings. Primary vehicle access is via Forest Road 38 (East Side Reservoir Road, gravel), accessed from Hungry Horse by heading east on US Highway 2 then south through Martin City; the Spotted Bear Ranger Station sits 55 miles south of Hungry Horse on FR 38. The west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir is accessed by Forest Road 895. Key trailheads along FR 38 include: South Creek Trailhead (60 miles south of Hungry Horse, elevation 4,400 ft, maintained August 15–November 15, used for late-season hunting); Meadow Creek Trailhead (67 miles south, elevation 4,000 ft, major entry to Bob Marshall Wilderness via USFS Trail 80 South Fork Main East Side Trail); and Gorge Creek Trailhead (71 miles south, elevation 4,200 ft, open May 15–November 30). Bear Creek Trailhead provides access to the Great Bear Wilderness via Big River Trail 155. Most hunting beyond the reservoir's margins requires hiking or horseback travel due to limited motorized access within wilderness boundaries. Cellular service is extremely limited throughout the district. A BNSF right-of-way restricted area exists from Marias Pass to the Java Creek Bridge within the district boundary.

Dense coniferous forest dominates, with lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce covering the majority of slopes. Lower drainages contain thick alder, devil's club, and mixed riparian brush along creeks and the South Fork. Significant portions of the winter range have been impacted by large canopy-replacing wildfires, which FWP cites as a contributing factor to elk recruitment declines. Huckleberries are abundant in logged and burned openings during late summer and early fall, attracting bears. High-elevation subalpine meadows provide summer range for ungulates and mountain goats.

Elk numbers in HD 140 are chronically below the FWP 3-year average population objective of 250–350. The 2024 aerial count totaled 156 elk; the 2023 count was 67 elk. Spring 2024 surveys were not conducted due to budget restrictions per the FWP 2024 Region 1 Elk Annual Report. Calf recruitment in 2023 was 13 calves per 100 cows, one of the lowest recorded in the district's recent history. Wolves are present in high numbers in this district; their predation effects on elk are being actively studied. Grizzly bear density is high due to the district's position within the core of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Black bear are broadly distributed across the district and are attracted to huckleberry patches in late summer. Mountain lion inhabit the district year-round. White-tailed deer and mule deer occupy lower-elevation river corridors and reservoir margins. Moose are present in riparian habitats along the South Fork and tributary drainages. Mountain goat occupy the highest rocky ridgelines. Gray wolf is huntable and present in documented numbers. The district provides outstanding wilderness-quality habitat for non-hunted species including lynx, wolverine, and rare native cutthroat trout in the South Fork.

1. Elk population objective corrected to 250–350 (3-year average) per FWP 2024 Region 1 Elk Annual Report; draft's 360–510 figure was not found in primary sources. 2. 2024 elk count: the spring 2024 survey in HD 140 was not conducted due to budget restrictions; a fall/aerial count recorded 156 total elk. The 2023 count was 67. 3. Antlerless archery elimination and B-license private-land-only change both confirmed from FWP PI Sheet and montanaoutdoor.com. 4. White-tailed deer either-sex week-one opportunity for HD 140 added per 2026 PI Sheet. 5. Wolf 2026-27 season dates TBD; draft dates reflect 2025-26 season. 6. Mountain goat quota of 1 not independently confirmed from FWP primary source. 7. Elk collaring study not mentioned in 2024 annual report text; removed from wildlife section as unverified. 8. District size: GoHunt 791 sq mi used as primary; HuntScore 291 sq mi (185,951 acres) noted discrepancy.