This district is found in southwest Montana along the Idaho border and is home to the famous Big Hole Valley. This area has long been known for its incredible hunting, but it also provides excellent bear hunting in some of the most breathtaking scenery around. Hunters will find all types of terrain and habitat to test their skills; hunters of all backgrounds can find opportunities. There are plenty of roadless areas of deep, mature forests and hunters willing to hike will have no problem achieving solitude.

Hunters can expect to find great hunting opportunities in this district along with some of the best scenery Montana has to offer.

When it comes to terrain diversity, this district could put on a clinic. Along the Beaverhead River to the east and the Bighole River to the west, there are mature patches of cottonwood and willow. Outside of these riparian zones, the elevation will climb slightly into rolling hills of sage, rock, and juniper. These areas will generally be easy to traverse, but the small ridges can rise and fall sharply making travel much harder than expected. In the higher elevations, ridges will climb rapidly, covered in mature stands of red fir, white pine, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole. Many of these high elevation areas will be broken with large grassy meadows and frequent pockets of water. The rougher country found on the southern end of the Pioneer Mountains and the area along the Idaho border will have much more rock and large cliffs along the highest ridgelines. Travel can be dangerous in these areas and caution will need to be strictly exercised.

Overall, access is great in this area. Much of the high country is established wilderness, leaving miles of exploration opportunity for anyone willing to put in the effort. Most of the bear habitat will require a fair amount of physical exertion to reach, but there are some options in the lower elevations for quick hunts. Quite a few hiking trails can be found in this area making access into some of the deepest backcountry areas feasible on foot. Generally speaking, most of the lowlands found along the valley floors will be comprised of private land.

As with the terrain, hunters will also find a wide variety of vegetation. The river bottoms along the Bighole and Beaverhead Rivers will be filled with willow, cottonwood, and grasses. The mid elevation areas are largely void of tree cover and are primarily comprised of sagebrush and some sparse juniper. The higher elevations will be home to the ever present ponderosa pine along with white pine, red fir, lodgepole, and subalpine fir. Large meadows of native grasses bisected with small trout streams can be found scattered throughout the high country.

There are a few modern lodging options on the west side of the unit in the towns of Wisdom and Jackson. Dillon, on the east side of the district, will be your best bet as far as lodging is concerned. Modern camping is permitted on public lands for up to 14 days. Sporting goods need can be met in Dillon or prior to leaving for your hunt. Groceries can be found in most of the small towns throughout the unit, but specialty items will likely need to be purchased prior to the hunt.