District 292, Montana

Rugged, steep mountain terrain with elevations ranging from approximately 3,300–3,700 feet in lower valley bottoms to 7,511 feet at Old Baldy Mountain, the highest point in the Garnet Range (confirmed). The range is characterized by steep-walled gulches, forested ridgelines, and historic mining-era road networks. The Blackfoot River and Clark Fork River drainages bound the district on the north and west respectively.

Primary motorized access via Montana Highway 200 (approx. 30 miles east of Missoula) — turn south between mile markers 22–23 onto the Garnet Range Road (Garnet Back Country Byway), which climbs 2,000 feet over 12 miles to Garnet Ghost Town. Secondary access from Interstate 90 via Drummond or Bearmouth exits, then old U.S. 10 to Bear Gulch Road (steep, narrow, not suitable for trailers or RVs). Additional access roads include Ashby Creek Road and Cramer Creek Road. Land ownership: BLM ~25% (Missoula Field Office, 406-329-3914), Montana DNRC state trust lands ~29%, and private parcels (many formerly Plum Creek/Stimson Lumber timber lands; The Nature Conservancy holds significant acreage). Garnet Range Road is closed to wheeled vehicles January 1 – March 31; motorized access available roughly May–December. Many interior roads are closed to motorized travel during the later hunting season or are non-motorized only year-round. Some agriculture occurs along western and southern district boundaries.

Mixed conifer forest dominated by lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, western larch, ponderosa pine, and subalpine fir. Lower elevations and south-facing slopes transition to more open ponderosa pine with scattered sage and juniper. Riparian corridors along creeks support cottonwood and willow. Meadow openings with sedge and native grasses provide important foraging habitat. The Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area (11,580 acres) and Hoodoo Mountain WSA (11,380 acres) are notable roadless blocks within BLM ownership. No designated Wilderness areas exist within the district.

White-tailed deer are present throughout, most abundant in forested cover and riparian corridors; mule deer occur primarily at higher elevations and in more open terrain. Elk use upper-elevation summer range and migrate to lower drainages in winter; the Blackfoot-area elk herds (which include HD 292) are near or below the lower range of FWP population objectives as of 2024, in contrast to most other Region 2 herds. Moose are confirmed resident with a small but quality population along creek drainages and timbered flats. Black bear are common in forested habitat. Mountain lion are present throughout the range following deer and elk prey. Gray wolf packs are established in Region 2; 79 wolves were harvested across Region 2 in the 2025–2026 season (statewide total: 243 of a 452 quota). Grizzly bears have been recently confirmed inhabiting the Garnet Range (per Wikipedia/BLM sources) but are not a huntable species. The area hosts native cutthroat trout and supports goshawk nesting.

1. Public land percentage (54%) from HuntScore: BLM 25% + DNRC state 29%; GoHunt separately lists 61.2% — discrepancy likely reflects different boundary definitions or inclusion of Nature Conservancy land. 2. Elk antlerless B-license quota of 50 and deer antlerless B-license quota of 100 are from 2024 regulation documents; 2026 quotas unconfirmed — verify against current FWP regulations. Both are private-land-only within the Blackfoot watershed. 3. Moose tag quota of 3 confirmed by GoHunt moose profile. 4. Season dates are 2026 statewide framework; district-specific variations should be confirmed in the official 2026 Montana DEA Regulations PDF at fwp.mt.gov. 5. Grizzly bear presence confirmed in Garnet Range (Wikipedia, BLM) but not a huntable species — excluded from species array. 6. Elk population correction: Blackfoot-area herds (including HD 292) are near or below lower range of FWP objectives per 2024 Region 2 report — draft claim of 'at or near modern highs' was overstated and corrected. 7. 2021 combined harvest stats (1,128 hunters, 544 animals, 19.9% success) from HuntScore — older data, not broken down by species.