District 313, Montana

Rugged, steep mountain terrain rising from the Yellowstone River valley floor at approximately 5,029 feet to peaks exceeding 10,000 feet in the Absaroka Range. GoHunt lists the elevation range as 5,029–10,450 ft. Approximately 75–80% of the hunting area falls within or adjacent to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Valley benches, canyon walls, and high alpine basins characterize the landscape. Slopes are steep throughout, with limited road penetration above the valley drainages.

US Highway 89 runs north-south through Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River, providing the primary vehicle corridor. Key side-road access points off US 89 include: Tom Miner Road (turns west off US 89 approximately 36 miles south of Livingston / 17 miles north of Gardiner, crosses the Yellowstone on Carbella Bridge, ~12 miles gravel to the Tom Miner Campground and trailhead); Mill Creek Road (east off US 89 into the Absaroka Range); Sixmile Creek Road (east off US 89); and Jardine Road (northeast of Gardiner toward the historic Jardine mining area). The Gardiner Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest administers the majority of public land (office: 805 Scott Street, Gardiner, MT; 406-848-7375). The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness requires foot or horse travel — no motorized vehicles. Multiple USFS trailheads connect to the wilderness interior. Private land blocks occur in the lower valley floor around Gardiner and along the Yellowstone River bottoms; white-tailed deer hunting is largely confined to these private areas. Grizzly bear activity is high throughout the district, particularly from Sixmile Creek to Mill Creek and in Tom Miner Basin; bear spray is mandatory practice. Public land approximately 80–81% (GoHunt: 80%; HuntScore: 81%).

Lower valley floors and river terraces support riparian cottonwood and willow corridors. Mid-elevation slopes (5,500–8,000 ft) are dominated by Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and Engelmann spruce-fir forest. Higher drainages transition through subalpine fir and whitebark pine to open alpine meadows and talus above approximately 9,500 feet. Sagebrush-grassland benches occur in the lower Yellowstone and Gardiner river valleys. Tom Miner Basin and adjacent drainages serve as a natural extension of Yellowstone's wildlife habitat with dense timber and open meadow complexes.

The district supports the Northern Yellowstone elk herd — a large migratory population. A 2025 aerial count reported 6,124 elk north of Yellowstone National Park (3-year moving average 5,352; management objective 3,000–5,000); herd was above management objective as of 2025. These counts apply to the broader Northern Yellowstone elk herd EMU, not HD 313 alone. Elk migrate out of Yellowstone in fall and winter into Paradise Valley and adjacent drainages, providing significant hunting opportunity. Mule deer are present on valley benches and mid-elevation slopes; recent trend data from GoHunt suggests the population may be improving (earlier FWP sources noted numbers below long-term average in the Gardiner trend area — verify current status with FWP Region 3). White-tailed deer occur primarily in the lower Yellowstone River valley and are most accessible on private land. Mountain goat have historically been present with a limited-entry hunt (hunt 313-30, nanny mountain goat); this hunt was removed for the 2026 season (low confidence — verify with FWP before applying). Grizzly bears are numerous throughout the district. Mountain lions are present throughout the Absaroka Range. Wolves are present and associated with the Northern Yellowstone elk herd; wolf season open Sept 15, 2025–March 26, 2026. Moose occur at low densities in riparian drainages. Black bears are present throughout forested areas.