District 319, Montana

Rugged mountain terrain ranging from roughly 5,200 feet in valley bottoms to over 10,500 feet along the Continental Divide; Mount Haggin summit reaches 10,607 feet. Public lands are notably steep — FWP documents note 80% of the hunting management unit has slopes equal to or less than 22 degrees (indicating pervasive steep gradient). The Fleecer Mountains form the southeastern part of the district; the Anaconda-Pintler Range rises to the northwest. The Big Hole River corridor along MT-43 defines the southern boundary at lower elevation.

Over 75% of HD 319 is public land including Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (Wise River and Butte Ranger Districts), FWP's Mount Haggin WMA (~60,289 acres), FWP's Fleecer Mountain WMA (6,496 acres across four units), BLM parcels, and DNRC state lands. Primary highway access is via MT-1 (Anaconda corridor) to the north and MT-43 (Big Hole Highway) along the southern boundary; I-15 and I-90 provide access from Butte to the northeast. Mount Haggin WMA is accessed via MT-274 and MT-569 (Mill Creek Highway) between Anaconda and MT-43, with Cabbage Gulch, California Creek, and German Gulch Road entry points off MT-441 near Fairmont Hot Springs. Beaverdam Campground and USFS trailheads in the Fleecer Mountains lie approximately 17 miles south of Butte off I-15. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness (158,615 acres) has trailheads accessible from MT-1 and MT-43 with the Continental Divide Trail traversing its interior for approximately 45 miles. Forest Service roads provide good coverage but can become impassable in mud/snow — chains or four-wheel drive recommended. Some lower Willow Creek private inholdings create limited access issues. Several Block Management Areas supplement public access on private lands. Proximity to Butte (population ~35,000) generates heavy hunter pressure, especially on opening weekend of the general season.

Diverse mosaic of mountain meadows, sagebrush grasslands, and conifer/aspen forests. Conifer stands are dominated by lodgepole pine, various firs, and Engelmann spruce at higher elevations. Aspen groves (including juvenile regenerating stands) are present throughout. Open high-valley grasslands, wetlands, and riparian corridors exist across the Mount Haggin WMA. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness contains spruce-fir and subalpine parkland above treeline. Lower foothills transition to sagebrush and rangeland. Habitat restoration from historic mining and logging has proceeded across much of Mount Haggin since its acquisition in 1976.

Elk numbers are stable and strong with good calf production; the 3-year winter aerial survey average for the former HD 319 footprint is approximately 1,142 elk (winter 2024–25 survey counted 963), above FWP's 850–1,100 management objective — FWP is actively working to reduce population through liberalized harvest. Elk concentrate on Fleecer winter range (894 counted on Fleecer in the 2024–25 survey, above the 800-elk target). Mule deer are present but populations are at the low end of 20-year counts, prompting limited-draw buck permits. White-tailed deer occur in riparian and lower elevation areas. Pronghorn numbers in HDs 318 and 319 are depressed following harsh 2023 winter conditions affecting fawn production; recovery expected to take several years. Moose are present (Mount Haggin WMA moose population grew from 7 animals in 1976 to 56 by 2000 through successful habitat management). Black bear are present and hunted OTC. Mountain lion are present district-wide. Wolves are present; Regional 3 quota is 60 animals for 2026. Grizzly bear are documented on Mount Haggin WMA as an occasional/seasonal species but are not a huntable game species in Montana. Over 200 bird species are documented on Mount Haggin WMA.