District 315, Montana

Rugged, steep mountain terrain rising from Shields River valley floors at approximately 4,300 feet to alpine summits approaching 10,900 feet (Crazy Peak area). The Crazy Mountains feature nearly vertical peaks, sawtooth ridges, glacial cirques, and alpine basins. Lower elevations transition through rolling foothill rangelands and creek-bottom draws before giving way to steep forested slopes and rocky alpine terrain.

Access is the defining challenge of HD 315. The district is approximately 78% private land — dominated by large ranches — with public Custer Gallatin National Forest land in a checkerboard pattern that blocks many historical routes. Five documented legal vehicle access points to National Forest land on the west slope exist per FWP EMU documentation: Smith Creek, Upper Shields River (Shields River Road off US-89 near Wilsall), Porcupine Creek (via Shields River Road north ~8 miles from Wilsall then Porcupine Road ~8 miles to trailhead — high-clearance/4WD required), Cottonwood/Ibex, and Rock Creek. The Porcupine Ibex Trail #267 (Custer Gallatin NF) departs from the Porcupine Cabin trailhead at ~6,400 ft elevation and connects to interior drainages. Block Management Areas (BMAs) provide walk-in access to key transition habitat; confirmed 2025 BMAs valid in HD 315 include Arthun Ranches (~21,913 acres, D/E 315/393/580) and Chevallier Ranch (~2,100 acres, Clyde Park, D/E 315). Outfitters control access to much of the privately owned elk habitat; a private land purchase of ranches totaling 44,000 acres closed access to much of the southwest corner of the Crazy Mountains (per FWP EMU document). Hunters are strongly advised to confirm BMA boundaries and access permissions before entry via fwp.mt.gov/bma or by calling Region 3 at (406) 577-7888. The Livingston Ranger District (406-222-1892) manages the primary USFS land within the district.

Lower elevation foothill and valley zones: irrigated agriculture, irrigated creek bottoms (cottonwood/willow riparian), sage-grassland, and mixed shrublands. Mid-elevation slopes: dense lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and subalpine fir forest with small parks and meadow openings. Upper elevation: Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir giving way to open wildflower/grass alpine basins and willow shrubfields near treeline. Elk use timbered ridges and dark-timber bedding on mid-elevation slopes, wintering on private ranch lands below approximately 7,000 feet. Mule deer and whitetail utilize creek bottoms, riparian corridors, and agricultural edges on private land.

Elk are the primary big game, with a population of approximately 3,315 (2025 FWP aerial count) — well above the 1,200–2,000 management objective for the Crazy Mountains EMU (HD 315 and 580 combined). Herds use mid-elevation timbered slopes during fall and migrate to private ranch wintering areas below approximately 7,000 ft. Rocky Mountain mule deer and white-tailed deer are both present — whitetail concentrate in creek bottoms, riparian corridors, and agricultural edges on private land, while mule deer use the upper foothill and mountain terrain. Mountain lion are present following deer and elk prey populations. Black bear inhabit the forested mid-elevation slopes. The Crazy Mountains harbor mountain goat populations in select drainages (limited-entry permits issued). Gray wolf activity has been documented in the greater region. Upland birds (blue and ruffed grouse) inhabit the forested slopes.

1. Public/private split: 78% private / 22% public per FWP Crazy Mountains EMU document (EMU covers HD 315 + 580 combined). 2. Elk B License: eRegulations table shows 315-01 (quota ~500, antlerless, draw, private land only) as the current structure; the Dec 2025 FWP Commission proposal replaces this with OTC multi-district 397-00 for 2026 — verify exact 2026 structure at fwp.mt.gov. 3. Elk population 3,315 from 2025 FWP aerial count, above the 1,200–2,000 EMU objective. 4. Overall hunter success rate 22.3% from HuntScore (2021 combined all species/hunters); species-specific success not independently verified. 5. Deer B-license quotas (315-01 = 250 antlerless whitetail; 315-02 = 70 antlerless mule deer doe, private land only) sourced from eRegulations and LandTrust 2024 data — confirm 2026 quotas with FWP. 6. BMA property names 'Hogan Ranch' and 'Anderson Creek' from the draft were NOT found in the 2025 FWP Block Management Guide and have been removed. Confirmed BMAs include Arthun Ranches (~21,913 ac) and Chevallier Ranch (~2,100 ac). 7. Mountain goat presence noted from regional context; no current-year quota or permit number independently verified for HD 315 specifically. 8. Season dates from eRegulations reflect 2024/2025 seasons; 2026 statewide archery/general dates per FWP are Sep 5–Oct 18 and Oct 24–Nov 29.