District 426, Montana

Gently to moderately rolling uplands broken by long, steep-walled coulees and drainages descending northward to the Missouri River corridor. Elevation ranges approximately 2,600 to 4,200 feet. The Missouri River bluffs on the northern boundary offer the most dramatic relief, while the southern portions near Denton and Hilger are lower, more open prairie.

Primary road access: State Route 236 (Winifred Road) runs north–south through the district center; SR-81 forms the approximate southern boundary near Denton; the DY Trail connects Winifred northeast to the Stafford Ferry Road at the Missouri River. The Stafford Ferry Road provides vehicle access to the Missouri River along the northern boundary. BLM public land — managed by the BLM Lewistown Field Office (406-538-1900) — includes the Arrow Creek Backcountry Conservation Area (~12,800 acres, about 12 miles northeast of Denton, accessed via Arrow Creek drainage) and portions of the broader Crooked Creek BCA (~93,400 acres). FWP's Beckman Wildlife Management Area (6,600 acres) is accessed via Alton Road then Bally Dome Road off SR-81 east of Denton (contact 406-538-2445; open April 1–January 1). Public land is only approximately 17% of the district; the dominant land pattern is private agricultural checkerboard. GPS and current onX/BLM surface-ownership maps are strongly recommended. No National Forest lands or Wilderness areas exist within this district. Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) is nearby to the northeast but outside HD 426 boundary; Elk B License 004-00 is explicitly not valid on CMR Refuge lands.

Ponderosa pine–covered ridgelines and drainages (notably around Beckman WMA and Arrow Creek) alternate with sagebrush–grassland benches and native prairie. Large dry-land wheat and alfalfa farm fields dominate the open uplands. Riparian corridors along the Missouri River, Judith River, and Arrow Creek support cottonwood galleries and dense willow thickets. The Beckman WMA (6,600 acres, north of Denton off SR-81 via Alton Road then Bally Dome Road) contains ponderosa pine uplands and Judith River bottomlands.

Mule deer are the primary big-game draw, historically producing trophy-quality bucks, though populations declined sharply after the 2020–2022 droughts and 2022–23 winter (FWP biologist noted near-record lows in 2024; district was significantly below long-term average). Elk numbers are growing; the Missouri River Breaks area recorded elk counts in the 2025 aerial surveys at the lower end of the management objective range. White-tailed deer occur in riparian drainages and agricultural edges. Pronghorn antelope are present on open uplands (confirmed at Beckman WMA; no antelope hunting district for HD 426 in 2026 regs). Wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge inhabit the district. Black bear are present in the ponderosa-pine breaks but HD 426 has no quota-managed bear BMU, indicating low to moderate density. Mountain lion presence is possible in the pine drainages but HD 426 is not listed as a named lion management unit.

1. Pronghorn are present at Beckman WMA (confirmed) but HD 426 has no designated antelope hunting district in 2026 regulations. 2. Mountain lion: HD 426 does not appear as a named LMU in 2026 regs; status uncertain — verify with FWP. 3. Elk Permit 426-20 quota shown as ~90 in 2022 base regs and ~60 in 2024–2026 draft reflecting population reductions; verify current quota with FWP Region 4 Lewistown (406-538-4658). 4. Elk Permit 417-21 (archery-only, either-sex) is shared between HDs 417 and 426; the combined quota was ~340 in 2022 and may be ~300 for 2026 given population restrictions. 5. Deer B License 004-00 OTC date is June 15 per 2026 regulation change (moved from Aug 8). 6. The 17% public land figure comes from GoHunt profile and may include BLM, DNRC State Trust, and FWP WMA lands combined. 7. Mule deer population was at near-record lows as of 2024; population trajectory by fall 2026 is uncertain — check current FWP reports.