South Big Hole unit is in Beaverhead County northwest of Dillon, southwest of Wisdom, and west of Montana Route 278. Beaverhead National Forest offers hundreds of square miles of public access along the Idaho State Line. The Continental Divide runs through the Beaverhead Mountains with peaks reaching above 10,000 feet. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks issues resident only limited draw licenses.

Bulls roam from the basins setting below 10,000 feet to the valley floor along the Big Hole River. Mature bulls stand seven feet at the shoulder and weigh over 1,000 pounds so be prepared to handle over 400 pounds of meat once your trophy is on the ground. Bull range from a score of 120” upwards to the high 130” with a possibility of 140” Boone and Crockett score.

Center Mountain sits above timberline in the southern portion of Beaverhead Mountains and has an elevation of 10,362 feet. Ajax Peak and Squaw Mountain both over 10,000 marked the northern boundary. Many other 10,000 foot peaks rise up on the Continental Divide between Center and Squaw Mountains. Major drainages that take snowmelt east towards the Big Hole River Valley include Big Lake, Big Swamp, Miner, Hamby and Pioneer. Ridges drop off the Continental Divide dropping some 2,000 feet to the valley floor. Many alpine lakes and basins can be found in the Beaverhead Mountains.

Beaverhead National Forest provides a good Forest Service road and trail systems include portions of the noted Continental National Scenic Trail. Beaverhead County roads travel through private lands in the Big Hole Valley leading to the Forest Service roads and trails. From mid-October on be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions bringing deep snow to the high country. Four wheel drive vehicles with chains and a winch recommend during any season.

Beaverhead National Forest restricts camping to 16 accumulated days within any 30 day period. Check availability of developed camp sites at the regional office. Wisdom and Jackson offer limited lodging, café, and gas. Dillon is east along Interstate 15 providing a wide variety of motels, café and restaurants, a medical facility, and gas and diesel. Butte sits some miles to the northeast on Interstate 15 and 90 offering many choices of lodging, restaurants, medical care, and gas and diesel.

Alpine meadows, basins and lakes are surrounded with an endless quantity of wildflowers, mosses and lichen with some clusters of willow near springs, seeps and lakes. Stunted pines and krummholz can be seen above timberline then as the elevation drops dense stands of spruce, fir, and lodgepole pine provide excellent cover and bedding areas for big game. Open parks have lush grasses during the summer and provide a substantial amount of forage. Drainages may be choked with mountain shrubs including mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, dense clumps of willows, and some aspen groves.