This hunting district is found in western Montana, just east of Missoula. This district encompasses a huge area and features some vastly different terrain types. Hunters will find lots of bears throughout the district and plenty of good access points. Hunts can be as easy as you make them with the sheer amount of logging and mining roads in the area; there are plenty of backcountry opportunities for the die hards as well. Bear hunters from all experience levels can find a great hunt here.

This area, like most of western Montana, has a high density of black bears and can provide a great chance at a mature bear.

Ridges rise and fall very steeply in this country, but thanks to the many logging, ranch, and mining roads, hunters will find little trouble in gaining access throughout most of the unit. Additionally, there are plenty of areas for those looking to distance themselves from the crowds and hunt remote areas. Most of this unit will be very steep with a lot of elevation gain/loss between drainages. Expect lots of physical effort when traveling off the trail or road. Large parcels of the hunting district have been badly burned; while these areas provide great feed and glassing opportunities, they can also be a chore to navigate due to the amount of dead fall timber.

This area is comprised of mostly publicly accessible land and hunters will have little to no trouble finding their way into bear country. The western half of the unit will be covered in logging and mining roads, giving hunters plenty of options to access areas, though plenty of backcountry areas can be found including those found in the Welcome Creek Wilderness. On the eastern half of the unit, expect to find a high abundance of private lands in the lower elevations which can ultimately lead to obvious issues. Land ownership maps can be a big help in these situations.

Hunters will find a wide array of vegetation in this area, however, ground cover here is decreased in abundance and density as compared to some of the western districts. Sprawling sage flats cover the lowlands on the eastern side of the district, while the western half is home to lodgepole and subalpine fir. Bears will feast on native grasses in the spring as the snow levels recede into the high country. Nearly every tree species found in the state can be found to some degree in this unit with ponderosa, fir, and lodgepole being the most abundant.

Hunters will find lodging options in the smaller towns of Hamilton and Drummond, but most lodging will be found in Missoula. Groceries and other amenities can be found in any of these towns while sporting goods will best be met in Missoula.