- Region
- Montana
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Confirm current hunting license, permit an…
Plan with verified data
Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains) 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, east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. It encompasses portions of Broadwater, Gallatin, Meagher, and Lewis and Clark Counties. The district can be accessed by US Highway 12, US Highway 287, and Route 284.
- Canyon Ferry Reservoir Area
This district starts along the shores of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. It is accessed by US Highway 287, Route 284, and US Highway 12. There are numerous county roads in the district.
- Magpie Creek Road (Forest Service Road 425)
The district boundary description includes an intersection with Route 284 and Magpie Creek Road (Forest Service Road 425), then northerly along said road to its intersection with the Broadwater/Meagher County line.
- Lower Gurnett Creek Road
The district boundary description includes an intersection with Lower Gurnett Creek Road, then westerly along said road to the east shore of Canyon Ferry Reservoir.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage · HuntScore · GoHunt. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Montana · United States · Season: Fall hunting seasons
- Hunting
- Winter Camping
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Backpacking
Overview
HD 390, encompassing the Big Belt Mountains, is a consistent producer for public land elk. This district offers a good mix of timbered mountains, open parks, and drainages, providing excellent habitat. Much of it is national forest land, ensuring ample public access, though some private timber holdings exist. The terrain is moderately challenging, with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 feet, making it accessible to a wider range of physical abilities than some of the more extreme wilderness units. Helena is the closest major hub, providing good services and access points. Success here often comes from covering ground, locating elk in their timbered bedding areas, and ambushing them near water or feeding grounds. It’s a popular unit, so expect company, especially on weekends and during the general rifle season opener. Hunters willing to hike a few miles off primary trails will find more solitude and often more successful. Archery season can be very productive as elk are vocal. Late season rifle hunting can also be good as snow pushes elk to lower elevations.
Best access is generally from roads off Highway 12 or Highway 287. Ideal seasons are mid-September for archery and the general rifle season, particularly the first and last weeks. Skill level is moderate to advanced; physical fitness is a key advantage. Permits are standard general tags. Trade-offs include moderate to high hunting pressure, especially in easily accessible areas, and elk can become very wary quickly.
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 Archery and Rifle (#2) Access point: Big Belt Mountains, Montana 59644, 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 (Big Belt Mountains), 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
- 46.4541, -111.2644
- Latitude (DMS)
- 46° 27′ 14.8″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 111° 15′ 51.8″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains), not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
HD 390, encompassing the Big Belt Mountains, is a consistent producer for public land elk.
Key takeaways
- Region: Montana
- Country: United States
- Best season: Fall hunting seasons
- Good for: hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Coordinates: 46.454, -111.264
Intended uses
- hiking
- wildlife viewing
- camping
Climate suitability
Fall hunting seasons
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains)
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- 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.
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
Animals around Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains)
District identity and trip scope
Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains) is the Montana destination identified for this trip. Plan around the specific district rather than treating the mountain-range name as a usable boundary or an access description. A hunting district designation should not be taken as confirmation that every parcel within it is open to entry, hunting, camping, or vehicle travel. Before choosing a starting point, establish the current district boundary and the ownership of the ground the trip would cross. This profile does not establish those details, so it cannot support a specific field itinerary. The useful next step is to obtain current district mapping and match any proposed outing to verified access rather than selecting a route from the destination name alone.
Access and route planning
No specific trailhead, road approach, parking area, or walking route is established here for Hunting District 390. Consequently, there is no dependable basis for recommending a drive, assigning a route distance, or estimating difficulty. Keep access planning separate from choosing terrain: a location on a map is not necessarily a legal or practical starting point. Confirm the intended entry point, the status of every connecting road, and whether the entire proposed route can be traveled lawfully. Avoid building a schedule around an assumed through-route or vehicle connection. Once a route is verified, assess its actual length and terrain before setting a turnaround plan. Until then, treat this as an unverified destination outline, not a navigation guide.
Hunting rules and field preparation
Confirm current hunting requirements with the agency responsible for Hunting District 390 before making a hunting plan. No district-specific permit terms, fees, season dates, or species authorizations are established here. Access permission and hunting authorization are separate checks; do not assume that resolving one resolves the other. Likewise, this profile does not establish local water availability, camping arrangements, communications coverage, or particular hazards. Prepare a field plan only after checking conditions for the actual route and travel period. Carry navigation that shows the relevant boundaries, share the verified itinerary with a trusted contact, and set a return plan appropriate to the outing. These preparation steps do not replace current rules, landowner permission where needed, or an assessment of conditions on the ground.
Sample itineraries
- Hunting District 390 planning day · 1 day
Use this as a preparation day, not a field route. Confirm the district boundary, land ownership, legal access and current regulations with the managing agency before selecting an outing in the Big Belt Mountains.
- Two-day trip preparation · 2 days
Day one: verify district boundaries and identify authorized access. Day two: check local conditions and build a route with a turnaround plan. No specific trail, road, campsite or hunting location can be recommended without verified local information.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Confirm locally
District-specific spring conditions are not established here. Check current weather and access conditions before choosing a route.
Summer
Confirm locally
District-specific summer conditions and water availability are not established here. Confirm both before planning a field visit.
Fall
Confirm locally
District-specific fall conditions and hunting dates are not established here. Verify current regulations and local conditions separately; a season label does not establish legal hunting opportunities.
Winter
Confirm locally
Winter access and route suitability are not established here. Obtain current local information before committing to an outing.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Confirm locally | District-specific spring conditions are not established here. Check current weather and access conditions before choosing a route. |
| Summer | Confirm locally | District-specific summer conditions and water availability are not established here. Confirm both before planning a field visit. |
| Fall | Confirm locally | District-specific fall conditions and hunting dates are not established here. Verify current regulations and local conditions separately; a season label does not establish legal hunting opportunities. |
| Winter | Confirm locally | Winter access and route suitability are not established here. Obtain current local information before committing to an outing. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current hunting license, permit and land-access requirements with the managing agency for Hunting District 390.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Unverified access: do not assume a road, trail or parcel is open to public use.
- Unverified boundaries: confirm the hunting district and property boundaries before entering land or hunting.
- Unverified field conditions: no district-specific hazard assessment is available here; obtain local weather and route information before departure.
What to pack for Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains)
- Current district boundary map
- Land-ownership and authorized-access information
- Verified route plan
- Current applicable hunting regulations
- Managing agency contact information
- Local conditions report
- Packing checklist tailored to the verified route and forecast
Hunting District 390 (Big Belt Mountains) FAQ
- Is there enough local information to plan a field itinerary?
- No. District-specific routes, access points and conditions are not established here. The itineraries are preparation schedules, not verified outdoor routes.
- Where can visitors legally enter Hunting District 390?
- No access point is verified here. Confirm district boundaries, land ownership and authorized entry with the managing agency before traveling.
- What hunting permits are required?
- Confirm requirements with the managing agency. No district-specific permit, fee or reservation details are established here.
- Which wildlife species occur in the district?
- No district-specific species list is established here. Confirm wildlife information and any legal hunting opportunities with the managing agency.
- When is the best time to visit?
- A reliable seasonal recommendation cannot be made without local conditions and access information. For hunting, verify legal dates independently of weather and travel suitability.