District 406, Montana

Predominantly flat-to-rolling open prairie at 3,500–4,000 feet elevation. Relief is provided by the Marias River and its tributary drainages, where deeply cut coulees and clay-gumbo breaks create steep-sided draws. While overall elevation change is modest, the breaks along drainage systems can test stamina when hunting on foot; rain renders the clay soils nearly impassable.

Public land comprises only about 10% of HD 406 (roughly 1% BLM and 9% Montana State land), making access to private land the primary challenge. The district boundary runs from Conrad north on I-15 to Shelby, west on US Highway 2 to the Blackfeet Reservation boundary near Cut Bank, south and west along that reservation line to US Highway 89, then south to the junction of MT Route 219, east through Pendroy back to Conrad. The main access corridors are I-15 (north-south), US Highway 2 (east-west along the north), and US Highway 89 (western edge). The most significant public hunting area is the Marias River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), located southwest of Shelby along the Marias River; access for deer hunters during archery (Sep 5–Oct 18, 2026: 10 archers per 2-week period across three periods) and rifle seasons (Oct 24–Nov 29, 2026: 10 rifle hunters per week for weeks 1-3, then 5 per week for weeks 4-5 requiring a 406-50 or 406-51 permit) requires a drawn permit through a random FWP application (applied for June 1–30 electronically at fwp.mt.gov). All other species may be hunted at the Marias River WMA without a special access permit. Montana Block Management Areas (BMAs) in Region 4 provide additional private-land hunting access each season; hunters should consult the annual FWP Region 4 Block Management guide for current BMA listings. The FWP Region 4 office in Great Falls (406-454-5840) covers this district.

Dryland grain farming (wheat and barley) and native grassland cover the majority of the district. Riparian cottonwood-willow corridors line the Marias River and its tributaries. Draws and coulee edges hold native shrubs and sparse ponderosa pine in places. The WMA bottomlands add dense riparian cover that concentrates whitetail deer. There is no forested upland or montane habitat; this is genuine northern Great Plains country.

White-tailed deer are the signature game animal, historically producing large-bodied bucks in the prairie river-bottom habitat; populations have been negatively affected by disease in recent years and are slowly recovering. Mule deer are also present, though numbers and trophy quality have declined from historic highs. Pronghorn antelope are common on the open prairie portions of the district. Elk presence is incidental — the district sits within an EMU described by FWP as having very few elk (the Golden Triangle area), with occasional passage of lone animals or small groups from the Rocky Mountain Front to the west. Mountain lion are present, following deer into the river-bottom and coulee systems. Black bear are not characteristic of this prairie district. Upland birds including ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian (gray) partridge inhabit the grain fields and native grasslands. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) detection in HD 406 was cited in a draft sourced to the FWP 2024 CWD Annual Report, but could not be independently verified from accessible online sources; hunters should check current FWP CWD regulations and mandatory carcass transport rules before hunting.