- Region
- Montana
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Confirm current licensing, permit and acce…
Plan with verified data
Hunting District 390 trip tools
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Bear Country Food StorageBear country: canister, Ursack or hang, and the local rules.
- The 10 EssentialsDay on trail: carry the ten essentials.
- Water Purification MatrixRefilling on trail: compare treatment options.
- Layering CalculatorCool temps: build a layer stack for the climb and the summit.
How to get there
Hunting District 390 is located in west-central Montana. Depending on the specific game being hunted, portions of the district lie on the east side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir or just northwest of Bozeman, extending into the foothills of the Big Belt Mountains. The district is accessed by Highway 287, Highway 284, and Highway 12, with numerous county roads throughout.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage · GoHunt · LandTrust. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Montana · United States · Season: Fall hunting seasons
- Hunting
- Mountaineering
- Winter Camping
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Backpacking
Overview
Bordering Yellowstone National Park, HD 390 is known for its migratory elk herds and vast public land in the Gallatin National Forest. This unit is characterized by rugged mountains, deep canyons, and expansive forests. Gardiner, at the north entrance to Yellowstone, is the primary access point and nearest town. Early archery season can be good for resident elk, while the late rifle season, often extending into December, can be exceptional as elk migrate out of Yellowstone. This late season hunting can be brutally cold and requires specialized gear and knowledge of elk movement patterns. Hunter pressure can be high, particularly during peak migration periods and around park boundaries. Be prepared for deep snow, icy conditions, and unpredictable elk movements. Grizzly bears are abundant. Success often depends on understanding the specific migration routes and being in the right place at the right time. The terrain is steep and often unforgiving, demanding excellent physical condition.
Planning notes
Where: Montana, United States Best season: Fall hunting seasons Good for: Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Camping Featured on: Top 10 Public Land Elk Units in Montana: High-Percentage Bull Hunting (#5) Access point: Montana, USA
Check current permits, closures and fire restrictions with the managing agency before you commit to dates.
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Hunting District 390, United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
Coordinates
- Decimal degrees
- 46.8797, -110.3626
- Latitude (DMS)
- 46° 52′ 46.9″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 110° 21′ 45.2″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Hunting District 390, not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
Bordering Yellowstone National Park, HD 390 is known for its migratory elk herds and vast public land in the Gallatin National Forest.
Key takeaways
- Region: Montana
- Country: United States
- Best season: Fall hunting seasons
- Good for: hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Coordinates: 46.880, -110.363
Intended uses
- hiking
- wildlife viewing
- camping
Climate suitability
Fall hunting seasons
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Hunting District 390
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- Mountaineering
Glacier and high-route objectives with real consequence.
- Winter Camping
Cold-season travel and camp craft; layering matters more than mileage.
- Skiing
Ski-touring access when the road closes for the season.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Wildlife Viewing
Best light, best season, and where animals move.
Animals around Hunting District 390
District location and planning limits
Hunting District 390 is identified as a Montana destination, but its boundaries, terrain, and entry points are not established here. A usable district itinerary depends on confirming those details before choosing a trailhead, road, or hunting area. Do not assume that a nearby river, national forest, or town lies within the district simply because it is in Montana. The Tongue River landscape described below provides geographic context only; its relationship to Hunting District 390 is unconfirmed. Before making travel plans, obtain a current district map and check the intended destination against it. Keep district identification, land ownership, and permission to enter separate: knowing a district number does not establish where public access is available.
Tongue River landscape: context, not a district description
The Tongue River rises in Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains, flows generally northeast through northern Wyoming and southeastern Montana, and joins the Yellowstone River at Miles City. Its course includes Tongue River Canyon, the Tongue River breaks, pine hills, buttes, and grasslands. Those are distinct landscape settings, not interchangeable descriptions of a single outing. Canyon terrain calls for different route assessment than open grassland, while broken country can make a straight line on a map a poor guide to practical travel. None of these features is established as part of Hunting District 390. Use this regional description to understand the named river corridor, not to select a district route or infer its habitat, access conditions, or hunting opportunities.
Land management and trip preparation
The Tongue River watershed encompasses parts of the Cheyenne and Crow Reservations in Montana. Its headwaters lie in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming, and the watershed also encompasses the Ashland Ranger District of Custer National Forest. These geographic relationships do not identify the agency responsible for Hunting District 390 or establish permission to travel across any particular parcel. Confirm the district’s managing authority, current hunting requirements, and legal entry points before committing to an outing. Once a specific route is verified, match clothing, water, navigation tools, and emergency supplies to its terrain and forecast. No district-specific season recommendation, driving approach, or route length can be established here, so those details should remain open until the location and access are confirmed.
Sample itineraries
- One-day planning and access check · 1 day
Use this as a planning day, not a field route. Confirm Hunting District 390's current boundaries, managing agency, legal access and applicable regulations before choosing an outing.
- Two-day scouting framework · 2 days
Day one: verify district boundaries and identify lawful access with the managing agency. Day two: scout only where access has been confirmed. No specific trailhead, route or overnight location can be identified here.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Confirm locally before travel
District-specific spring conditions are not established here. Check weather and access conditions before setting a field itinerary.
Summer
Confirm locally before travel
District-specific summer conditions are not established here. Confirm current conditions and water availability before deciding what to carry.
Fall
Confirm locally before travel
District-specific fall conditions and hunting dates are not established here. Verify applicable regulations separately from weather and access conditions.
Winter
Confirm locally before travel
District-specific winter conditions are not established here. Check the forecast and whether intended access is usable before departing.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Confirm locally before travel | District-specific spring conditions are not established here. Check weather and access conditions before setting a field itinerary. |
| Summer | Confirm locally before travel | District-specific summer conditions are not established here. Confirm current conditions and water availability before deciding what to carry. |
| Fall | Confirm locally before travel | District-specific fall conditions and hunting dates are not established here. Verify applicable regulations separately from weather and access conditions. |
| Winter | Confirm locally before travel | District-specific winter conditions are not established here. Check the forecast and whether intended access is usable before departing. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current licensing, permit and access requirements with the agency responsible for Hunting District 390.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Unverified district boundaries can lead to navigation and regulatory mistakes. Carry a current district map.
- Unconfirmed land access can result in trespass. Verify ownership and permission before entering.
- An itinerary built around unverified access points may leave no usable route. Confirm entry and exit options before departure.
What to pack for Hunting District 390
- Current district boundary map
- Land ownership and legal access information
- Offline navigation backup
- Current applicable regulations
- Managing agency contact details
- Any required access authorization
Hunting District 390 FAQ
- Where exactly is Hunting District 390?
- The destination is identified as being in Montana, but its boundaries and access points are not established here. Confirm its location using a current district map before planning travel.
- Is the Tongue River part of this district?
- That connection is not established. Do not use Tongue River locations as district access points without checking a current boundary map.
- Which routes or trailheads should be used?
- No district-specific route or trailhead can be identified here. Ask the managing agency for current boundary and legal access information.
- What hunting opportunities are available?
- District-specific species, seasons and license requirements are not established here. Verify all three with the responsible agency before planning a hunt.
- When is the best time to visit?
- A reliable seasonal recommendation cannot be made without district-specific conditions and activity rules. Choose dates only after checking access, weather and any applicable hunting regulations.