- Region
- Montana
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Confirm license, permit and access require…
- Managed by
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (hunting regulations and Hunt Planner)
Plan with verified data
Hunting District 620 (Little 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
Access to Hunting District 620 varies. One portion of HD 620 is located in north central Montana, south of Malta, with the Missouri River as its southern boundary. Highway 2 runs along its northern boundary, and Highway 191 runs diagonally north to south through this area. Another part of HD 620 is located in the Little Rockies Mountains, with Malta being the nearest town, and the community of Zortman within the unit. Roads can become impassable with precipitation.
- Timber Creek BMA
From Glasgow, travel south on Highway 24 for 9 miles, then southwest on Willow Creek Road for 40 miles to the BMA. Hunters are required to stay on designated access routes.
Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 Cottonwood CampThis is a camping area within the Timber Creek BMA where private land camping is allowed. Access is via designated routes.
Photo: Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0 Timber Creek CampThis is a camping area within the Timber Creek BMA where private land camping is allowed. Access is via designated routes.
Sources: fwp.mt.gov · Wikipedia · Wikivoyage · 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 620, covering the Little Belt Mountains, provides a solid public land elk hunting experience in central Montana. This unit features a mix of coniferous forests, open parks, and sagebrush foothills. Public access is excellent throughout the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The terrain is less rugged than some of the western Montana units, making it more accessible to hunters of varying physical abilities, though it still has plenty of steep drainages. Elk populations are healthy, and it offers consistent opportunities, especially for those willing to hike a few miles from the main forest roads. Hunters here often focus on glassing feeding areas at dawn and dusk, then still-hunting timbered bedding areas during the day. White Sulphur Springs is the closest full-service town. Both archery and rifle seasons can be productive, with rut activity offering great calling chances. Expect moderate hunting pressure, particularly on weekends.
Best access is from various roads off Highways 87 and 12. Ideal seasons are mid-September for archery and the general rifle season, especially after the first snow. Skill level is moderate; good map reading and navigation are beneficial. Permits are standard general tags. Trade-offs include moderate hunting pressure, especially on easily accessible public land, and elk can be scattered across large areas.
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 (#10) 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 620 (Little 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
- 46.8797, -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 620 (Little 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 620, covering the Little Belt Mountains, provides a solid public land elk hunting experience in central Montana.
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 620 (Little 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 620 (Little Belt Mountains)
Confirm the District Before Planning
Start planning Hunting District 620 by confirming its current boundary and its association with the Little Belt Mountains through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). Do not use the district number and mountain-range name interchangeably without checking. In the FWP Hunt Planner, select the relevant species hunting-district layer and compare the mapped area with the current regulations. The map is a planning guide, not a substitute for the official rules. Hunters are responsible for knowing land ownership, hunting regulations, and applicable restrictions wherever they travel. Before choosing an approach or hunting location, verify the district information through the current FWP regulations and website. Keep the geographic boundary, species rules, and lawful access separate in the planning process; confirming one does not establish the others.
Check Ownership and Property-Level Access
Access planning requires more than finding a location inside a hunting-district boundary. Use the Hunt Planner's access-program layers to investigate possible opportunities, then verify the conditions for the specific property before making travel plans. If considering a Block Management Area (BMA), use the current individual FWP property map alongside the Hunt Planner. Property maps identify hunting rules that can include timing restrictions, internal exclusion zones, weapons restrictions, species restrictions, and the status of roads and trails. They can also show map boxes and sign-in boxes. Permission procedures are specific to each BMA and vary by region, so a procedure used elsewhere should not be assumed to apply here. Confirm permission and the intended approach together rather than treating a mapped property as automatically available.
Build a Verified Field Plan
Build the field plan around verified boundaries, ownership, and access instructions rather than a route selected from the map alone. FWP advises checking Hunt Planner information against current regulation booklets and its website before hunting, using access programs, or pursuing other recreation. Regulation booklets are also available at regional offices. When preparing a printed map, check that the information needed to interpret it is present: Hunt Planner printouts may omit some legend items and labels. For any BMA included in the plan, carry the current property map and follow its specific permission requirements and road or trail instructions. Leave travel timing and route commitments unsettled until a lawful entry point has been confirmed. A district-level map alone is not enough to establish a usable itinerary.
Sample itineraries
- One-day access check · 1 day
Use this as a planning day, not a verified field route. Select the intended species in Montana FWP’s Hunt Planner, confirm the district boundary and land ownership, and check current regulations. Identify legal access before choosing a destination.
- Two-day planning and reconnaissance · 2 days
On day one, verify district identity, regulations and access permissions. On day two, visit only an access location independently confirmed as legal. If using a Block Management Area, carry its current property map and follow its specific permission procedures.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Confirm locally before travel
Local spring terrain and access conditions are not established here. Verify current conditions and applicable regulations with the managing agency before selecting a field itinerary.
Summer
Confirm locally before travel
Local summer conditions are not established here. Check land ownership and access permissions rather than treating a mapped road or trail as authorization to enter.
Fall
Confirm locally before travel
Local fall conditions and hunting dates are not established here. Check current species regulations and any property-specific timing, weapons or access restrictions.
Winter
Confirm locally before travel
Local winter travel conditions are not established here. Confirm road and trail access with the managing agency; the Hunt Planner is a guide, not a guarantee of current access.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Confirm locally before travel | Local spring terrain and access conditions are not established here. Verify current conditions and applicable regulations with the managing agency before selecting a field itinerary. |
| Summer | Confirm locally before travel | Local summer conditions are not established here. Check land ownership and access permissions rather than treating a mapped road or trail as authorization to enter. |
| Fall | Confirm locally before travel | Local fall conditions and hunting dates are not established here. Check current species regulations and any property-specific timing, weapons or access restrictions. |
| Winter | Confirm locally before travel | Local winter travel conditions are not established here. Confirm road and trail access with the managing agency; the Hunt Planner is a guide, not a guarantee of current access. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm license, permit and access requirements with Montana FWP and the managing agency. For any Block Management Area, consult the current individual property map; permission procedures vary by property.
Official source: Hunt Planner Map - Montana FWP · Verified September 18, 2026
Hazards & regulations
- Mapping errors, omissions and positional inaccuracies can affect navigation and ownership decisions. Verify mapped information before entering land.
- Unverified land ownership or permission can lead to unauthorized entry. A map display does not establish access rights.
- Block Management Areas can have internal exclusion zones, timing restrictions and road or trail restrictions. Check the individual property map before travel.
What to pack for Hunting District 620 (Little Belt Mountains)
- Verified land-ownership and district maps
- Current individual property map for any Block Management Area used
- Property-specific permission instructions
- Current Montana FWP regulation booklet for the intended species
- Notes on applicable property timing, weapons and species restrictions
Hunting District 620 (Little Belt Mountains) FAQ
- Is District 620 confirmed as a Little Belt Mountains destination?
- That district-and-place pairing is not verified here. Confirm the intended species and district boundary with Montana FWP before booking travel or choosing access.
- Can the Hunt Planner establish legal access by itself?
- No. It is a guide. Hunters remain responsible for verifying land ownership, current regulations and applicable restrictions before entering or hunting.
- What is needed to use a Block Management Area?
- Use the current individual BMA property map alongside the Hunt Planner. Follow the property’s permission procedures and check timing restrictions, exclusion zones, weapons rules, species rules and road or trail restrictions.
- Where are the official hunting rules available?
- Current regulation booklets are available through the Montana FWP website and regional offices. Check the booklet applicable to the intended species rather than relying solely on map layers.
- Are there verified routes or access points for this profile?
- No specific local route or access point is established here. The itineraries are planning outlines, not confirmed field routes.