Hunters discussing Hunt District 340 in Montana shared valuable insights emphasizing the importance of preparedness due to occasional grizzly bear sightings and highlighting the complexity of the tag system. Draw odds for elk in this unit rely on bonus points rather than preference points, with no guarantee at any point level, although hunters with three points have previously had success. The unit offers a general license and a permit draw, with the permit allowing access to a longer season that can yield larger bulls, particularly in late season when snow pushes elk into more accessible areas. Overall, the hunting experience in this area can vary greatly, sometimes affected by factors like private land access and weather conditions, with hunters noting the presence of wolves impacting elk behavior.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 120"-130" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 130"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 300"+ |
High
Low
This district is located in the southwest part of the state between Dillon and Butte in the Highland Mountains. This district has a large amount of public land most of which is National Forest and BLM. Elk and deer are present throughout the district and available to hunters on a general tag. This area has not been managed for trophy quality and trophy bucks and bulls are rare.
The elk population in this district is way over objective. Hunting pressure can be extremely high in the National Forest of the Highland mountain range. A lot of elk are harvested in this district by both archery and rifle hunters. Deer numbers are good in the area but trophy bucks are few and far between.
The Highland Mountain range is comprised of more gentle long ridges in the north and steep rugged basins over 10,000 feet in the south. The southern part of this district is rough open country with steep creeks and long open ridges. Flat hay ground and croplands surround the perimeter of the district.
Public access in this district is excellent. There are good densities of roads and motorized trails throughout the district. Block Management Areas also provide good access to elk and deer in this district. Most of the district is quickly accessible because it has two interstates running on the north and west boundaries.
Up in the Highlands you will find thick timbered drainages with ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forest broken up by occasional pockets of aspen and grassy meadows. As you drop to mid elevations you’ll find the cottonwood and willow creek beds open up into large grassy meadows dotted with sagebrush and stands of aspen trees. In the low elevations around the perimeter of the district the vegetation is largely riparian pasture country with some agriculture.
This district offers a variety of options for any type of hunter. Some of the rugged and steep portions of the Highland Mountains offer up good backpack hunting above timberline. The rest of the region has good public camping areas and good lodging available in the towns of Butte and Dillon.
Roughly 852 square miles
48.3% public land
Elevations from 5,300-10,200 feet
ATV’s can be useful
Several National Forest and BLM roads scattered through the district
Pigeon Creek, Lions Den, Basin Canyon and Humbug Spires are all good public camping areas
Several hotels are available in Butte and Dillon for lodging