This district is found just north of the Yellowstone National Park and Wyoming border in southwestern Montana. Great bison hunting will be found here though there will certainly be crowds of spectators. Generally, these spectators will be non-confrontational and simply there to ensure the hunts are carried out legally. Escaping these crowds can prove to be fairly difficult unless hunting private lands. Along with the crowds of spectators, permit holders will also have to compete with tribal members hunting under the Hellgate Treaty of 1855.

This area is still the most popular amongst hopeful applicants, mostly due to the amount of bison found here. In recent years, the amount of tribal members present during the season has created some stiff competition forcing many hunters to seek permission for private lands or escaping the crowds and hunting further from roads.

The terrain in this area is fairly easy to navigate due to the rolling nature of the topography and the lack of restrictive vegetation found throughout much of the district. In the large basin surrounding the town of Gardiner, the primary hunting grounds, hunters can expect very easy walking with little to no vegetation and very little elevation change. As hunters head to the east or west they will begin to encounter timber patches and steep ridges making the traversing more difficult.

In general, access is fairly easy in this area due to terrain features and the areas the bison typically inhabit. Most hunters will generally take their bison on state or BLM owned lands; private access can be another great option though. Hunters will find more publicly accessible lands with less pressure when getting away from the town of Gardiner, but less animals will be present and game retrieval can become a chore. Unique to this hunt, is the allowed use of snowmobiles to retrieve downed game but keep in mind certain restrictions will apply to their use.

In the lower elevations found in the central portion of the district, the landscape will be largely dominated by sage, natural grasses, and rock with patches of juniper. As the elevation is increased look for pockets of timber including ponderosa pine, lodgepole, and white pine. Very little ground cover will be found in this district making for great glassing and stalking opportunities.

With its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park this district has ample avenues for lodging from modern to primitive. Most hunters opt for motels as temperatures during the hunt can be very low. Some sporting goods can be found in the town of Gardiner but most major needs will need to met prior to leaving for the hunt. Groceries and other amenities can be found in Gardiner.