District 390, Montana

The district spans a dramatic elevation range from approximately 3,963 feet at the mouth of Sixteenmile Canyon where the creek meets the Missouri River near Lombard, up to roughly 9,504 feet at the highest Big Belt peaks (Mount Edith). Sixteenmile Canyon itself features steep, narrow canyon walls with rugged, rocky terrain. The creek flows through Meagher, Broadwater, and Gallatin counties before joining the Missouri River 6 miles southeast of Toston. Valley floors along Sixteenmile Creek and the Missouri River/Canyon Ferry Reservoir corridor are broad and flat to gently rolling. The Big Belt Mountains form a classic island range with forested slopes, open parks, and rocky ridgelines.

Public land constitutes only approximately 10% of the district (roughly 2% USFS, 4% BLM, 4% State), making private land access the central challenge for most hunting. The primary public access areas include: (1) Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area — 5,920 acres managed by Montana FWP via Bureau of Reclamation MOU, located just north of Townsend along Canyon Ferry Reservoir, accessible via US Hwy 12/287 and Canton Lane, plus Riley Road, Lower Ray Creek Road, Meyer Road, and Lower Dry Gulch Road off State Highway 284; (2) Scattered Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest parcels on the upper Big Belt flanks; (3) Small Gallatin National Forest parcels near Maudlow at the east end of the district. The district is served by US Highway 12/287 running along the Missouri River/Canyon Ferry Reservoir corridor. Sixteenmile Canyon is accessible from the Lombard area (Interstate 90 at Lombard). Region 3 Block Management Areas provide access to private land across the region; BMA maps for HD 390 are available annually from the FWP Region 3 Bozeman office. The old Milwaukee Road railroad grade parallels Sixteenmile Creek through the canyon. General elk and deer licenses are not valid on National Forest lands in this district, and antlerless mule deer B-licenses are specifically not valid on National Forest lands in HD 390.

Lower elevations and valley floors feature native grasslands, sagebrush, and irrigated alfalfa on private ranch land — the primary draw for mule deer and elk in fall. Mid-elevation slopes carry ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine with intermixed parks of native grasses and forbs. Higher elevations support Douglas fir. A significant management concern documented by FWP is encroachment of juniper and Douglas fir into native grassland habitat, which has compressed pronghorn range along the Big Belt foothills east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Riparian corridors along Sixteenmile Creek and the Missouri River support cottonwood and willow stands.

Elk numbers in HD 390 are well above FWP management objectives as of 2025 forecasts, with herds concentrated on private ranch and agricultural land during hunting season and often inaccessible on private land throughout the general season. Bull rutting activity begins as early as the first week of September. Mule deer are present in good numbers on private land, particularly in areas near irrigated alfalfa fields. White-tailed deer are present, particularly around the Canyon Ferry WMA and riparian corridors along the Missouri River and Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Pronghorn occupy grassland and sagebrush habitat along the Big Belt foothills east of Canyon Ferry, but populations have declined due to juniper and Douglas fir encroachment on native grasslands and drought conditions; quota reductions and archery-permit restrictions have been implemented region-wide. Mountain lion are present in the district given the rugged canyon terrain and prey base. Black bear are present across the forested mountain flanks. Moose are documented at the Canyon Ferry WMA along Missouri River and reservoir riparian zones. The district is designated a Priority Surveillance Area for Chronic Wasting Disease monitoring.

1. Removed unverified claim of ~5,000 elk in aerial surveys for HD 390/391 — no sourced survey number confirmed. 2. Removed unverified '225–350 wintering deer' WMA management figure. 3. Pronghorn decline confirmed (juniper encroachment, drought) per Bozeman Daily Chronicle; exact 330-observed/475-objective figures not independently re-confirmed from fetched sources and were removed from wildlife narrative (retained as context in draft notes). 4. Sixteenmile Creek headwaters are in the Crazy Mountains (southeastern Meagher County), not the Big Belt Mountains — the draft's terrain section has been corrected accordingly. 5. Canyon Ferry WMA confirmed at 5,920 acres, accessible via US Hwy 12/287, Canton Lane, and four State Hwy 284 roads — matches draft. 6. Mount Edith 9,504 ft confirmed. Creek mouth elevation 3,963 ft confirmed. 7. Big Belt Mountains span Lewis and Clark, Meagher, and Broadwater counties per Wikipedia; HD 390 boundary also includes Gallatin County via the Sixteenmile Creek drainage. 8. General elk/deer licenses not valid on NF lands in HD 390 confirmed by FWP Region 3 forecast. 9. Antlerless mule deer B-licenses not valid on NF lands in HD 390 confirmed by FWP Region 3 forecast. 10. Season dates reflect 2024 actuals; district-specific 2026 dates should be confirmed in final 2026 regulations.