| Southwest Montana (also known as Region 3 by Montana Department of
Fish Wildlife & Parks) is comprised of large mountains and
foothills, broad valleys and plains, as wells as grasslands and
wooded areas. Region 3 has four Wilderness Areas
including the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, the Lee Metcalf
Wilderness, the Absarokee-Beartooth Wilderness, and the Gates of the
Mountain Wilderness. All Wilderness Areas are non-motorized;
hunted only by horse or on foot. Region 3 also has five National
Forests, including the Beaverhead National Forest, the Deerlodge
National Forest, the Custer National Forest, the Gallatin National
Forest, and the Helena National Forest. Region 3 covers over
12% of the state and 60% of that is public land. Hunting pressure is
higher due to all the public and large population base in this
region. This puts more restriction on harvest to help control the
game population, especially with mule deer.
Southwest Montana is home to a variety of big game species
including moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, elk, black bear,
grizzly bear, white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, mountain lions, and
wolves. Region 3 is largest producer of moose in Montana
and has a high success rate of harvest. Sheep hunting is great
in this area. Goat, black bear, and mountain lion harvest
rates are fair, but not as good as Region 1 and 2. Access for
white-tailed deer and antelope can be difficult since much of the
habitat is private. Region 3 is a large producer of elk, with
over 50% of the elk harvest coming from this area. There are a number of opportunities in this area for
bird and varmint hunting as well.
(Click on the towns on the map for a complete listing of
services in these areas)
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