- Low moose densities dispersed throughout the unit, might take many days to find a good bull
- Late in the season, roads can become very snow packed -tire chains are recommended
- Landownership maps can be helpful
- Allow plenty of time to hunt the unit
Flint Creek Range resides in thousands of acres of Deerlodge National Forest, west of Interstate 15 and the community of Deer Lodge, and north west of Anaconda. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks provide over 6,000 acres of Wildlife Management areas. A number of Shiras bulls are listed from Granite County in the Boone and Crockett record book with the largest bull harvest reaching 165”.
A number of limited tags are allocated for this unit. Take advantage of the breeding season to call in a roaming bull. Remember, bulls weigh over one thousand pounds so be prepared to quester and transport all of your meat. Locate cows first, then set up and call to attract a roaming bull. Heavy snows can shut down Forest Service roads and trails so watch the weather for pending storms.
Flint Creek Range consists of rugged rocky peaks with elevations atop Mount Powell reaching over 10,000 feet, which can make it challenging for the adventurous hiker. Other peaks range from 8,000 to over 9,000 feet with many alpine lakes sitting in large cirques. Near vertical talus slopes come off of the peaks, making for difficult accents through saddles. Headwaters for Lost, Rock and Racetrack Creeks travel to the east ultimately flowing into the Clark Fork. Expect to encounter steep slopes, narrow drainages and dense forest.
Above the tree line are grassy meadows carpeted with wildflowers. Talus slopes support lichens, and moss is found across the alpine. Near small streams and lakes are groups of barren ground willows. Dropping below timberline, dense forests of pine, spruce and fir crowd the mountain slopes. Dropping in elevation, groves of aspen and stands of ponderosa pine join mountain mahogany and bitterbrush. Valley floors have irrigated crops, sagebrush flats. Cottonwood and willows are found along creek bottoms.
Two Wildlife Management areas, Lost Creek and Stuckey Ridge, have well marked parking areas and trails. Montana Route 1 forms the southern and western boundary, while Interstate 15 creates the eastern and northern boundary, offering good access to Forest Service and county roads. A Forest Service maintained hiking and pack trail system travels within Deerlodge National Forest. Also noted are four-wheel drive tracts that reach many alpine lakes.
In the National Forest area, camping in an area, campsite, or developed campground is limited to 16 accumulated days within any 30 day period. Communities of Anaconda and Deer Lodge offer limited choices of motels, restaurants, medical care and gas and diesel. Butte, further to the southeast, has a wide variety of motels, hotels, cafés and restaurants, medical facilities and a regional airport with 24/7 gas and diesel fuel.
Roughly 774 square miles
56% public land
Elevations range from 4,500 - 10,100 feet