District 340, Montana

The Highland Mountains run along the Continental Divide with summits including Table Mountain, Toll Mountain, East Peak, and Red Mountain exceeding 10,000 feet. Elevation across the district ranges from approximately 5,300 feet in valley floors to over 10,200 feet on upper ridges. The northern portion of the range features longer, more gentle ridgelines while the southern reaches hold steep, rugged basins with sharp creek drainages. The 11,175-acre Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area (BLM), located approximately 26 miles south of Butte along the Highland Mountain foothills, is characterized by granite outcroppings from the Boulder Batholith rising 300-600 feet above the surrounding terrain.

Approximately 48.3% of the district is public land: 19% USFS (Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, Butte Ranger District), 23% BLM, 7% Montana State land, and 2% roadless WSA land; 52% is private. Interstate 15 provides the primary north-south corridor between Butte and Dillon. From Butte, Montana Highway 2 south approximately 8 miles reaches Roosevelt Drive (Forest Service Road 84), which connects through 19 miles of Highland Mountains terrain to I-15. The Humbug Spires WSA trailhead is accessed via I-15 Exit 99 (Moose Creek), traveling east approximately 3 miles. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traverses the upper Highlands and is accessible from multiple trailheads near Butte. The Hells Canyon Guard Station (approximately 30 miles southwest of Whitehall) is a known fall hunting staging area. FWP maintains Block Management Areas in and around the district.

Lower valley elevations support irrigated hay meadows, short-grass open range, and sagebrush flats, transitioning to dense willow and cottonwood riparian corridors along creeks and rivers. Foothills and mid-elevation slopes carry ponderosa pine transitioning to lodgepole pine, with spruce and fir dominating upper mountain slopes. Open grassy parks and ridgeline meadows are interspersed among the conifer stands at higher elevations. Roughly one-third of the Deerlodge National Forest portion is non-forested rangeland.

Elk are the primary big game target; the 2025 FWP Region 3 forecast describes HD 340 elk numbers as stable and strong with a good calf crop. Mule deer are present but population counts in the Butte area continue to be at the low end of the historical range. White-tailed deer are present in riparian corridors and lower-elevation cover. Pronghorn antelope occupy the open rangeland and sagebrush flats portions of the district with strong population numbers per the 2025 FWP forecast. Shiras moose are present along creek bottoms and riparian willow areas. Mountain lion are resident throughout the district. Black bear are present. Gray wolves are known to occur in the district and can influence elk distribution and behavior. Hunting pressure on National Forest lands during peak general season is extremely high.