Montana Antelope Hunting

This region lies east of Deer Lodge, adjacent to Interstate 90, and north of Butte. Most antelope habitat consists of privately owned land, except for the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area. The limited number of licenses available results in lower hunting pressure on the bucks. It’s advisable to plan your hunt well ahead of time to secure access to some private irrigated fields.

Unit 317 is located just south of Interstate 90 in south central Montana. Majority of the land in this district is private. Antelope numbers are good with some quality buck in the mix. This is an extremely scenic antelope unit with Montana mountain ranges in every direction.

Located in west central Montana, this district is a large area with a widely dispersed population of antelope. Despite being down from historic levels, the quality of the antelope in this district is decent, and they can be found scattered throughout the valley.

Helena, the capital of Montana, is located near the northern boundary of this hunting district, while the town of Townsend is situated at the southern end. The area features thousands of acres of public land through Block Management Areas, BLM, and Helena National Forest. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks estimates the antelope herd to be around 300. A few bucks from counties within this district are noted in the Boone and Crockett record book, but finding bucks of this caliber is quite rare throughout Montana.

This district is situated in west-central Montana, on the eastern side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Antelope are mainly found on private land, making access challenging and often requiring time to secure permission. While antelope populations have declined from historical highs, the overall quality remains decent. These animals tend to be scattered across isolated pockets throughout the area.

Antelope hunting district 404, located in northcentral Montana, is one of the largest antelope units in the state. It stretches east of the Rocky Mountain front, from Great Falls north to Highway 2, and is characterized by nearly all farmed land, with wheat and other dry ground crops being common. The region has very little topographic variation, except for some river breaks along the major water routes. While it can be difficult to obtain a hunting permit for this unit, it is known for producing some of the best bucks in Montana. A recent die-off did cause a decline in the antelope population, but numbers are still present in the area.

Located in central Montana, south of Lewistown and on the north side of the Snowy Mountains, this hunt district extends east to Winnett. The antelope in this region are typically found on private land. The population of antelope in this district has been impacted by a disease outbreak in 2009, and it has taken some time for the area to recover. However, the numbers are now stable and showing slight increases.

This district is situated in central Montana, southeast of Cascade. It is bordered to the north by the Missouri River and to the east by the Smith River. With over 85% of the land being privately owned, access can be challenging. However, antelope populations are healthy and have not suffered the die-offs seen in many other districts.

Located in central Montana, north of Stanford and south of Fort Benton, this district features mostly rangeland in its northern portion, as well as some farm ground. The Missouri River forms the northern boundary of the district. The population of antelope in this district has been impacted by a disease outbreak in 2009, and it has taken some time for the area to recover. However, the numbers are now stable and showing slight increases.

Unit 480 is situated north of Lewistown and extends out to the Missouri River. This hunt district includes part of the Missouri River Breaks in its northern portion. The population of antelope in this district has been impacted by a disease outbreak in 2009, and it has taken some time for the area to recover. However, the numbers are now stable and showing slight increases.

Unit 481 is in central Montana, with the town of Winnett as its south boundary and the Missouri River as its north boundary. Antelope can be found scattered throughout the unit. The population of antelope in this district has been impacted by a disease outbreak in 2009, and it has taken some time for the area to recover. However, the numbers are now stable and showing slight increases.

Unit 506 boasts very stable antelope populations. Situated just north of Big Timber on the eastern side of the Crazy Mountains, this is a great place to hunt antelope with some spectacular views.

Unit 516 is seeing antelope populations start to recover again from a disease outbreak in 2012. This district sits northeast of Roundup and south of the Snowy Mountains.

This hunting district is located in south-central Montana, to the east of Billings and north of Hardin. The northern boundary is marked by the Yellowstone River, while the southern boundary is adjacent to the Crow Indian Reservation. Antelope are primarily found on private land in this area, making access challenging and often requiring time to obtain permission. Although antelope numbers have declined from historical levels, they are currently stable and on the rise. The buck-to-doe ratio is respectable, and the general tag allows for hunting either sex of antelope.

This hunting district is situated in central Montana, where most antelope inhabit private land. While there are some scattered state sections and Block Management areas, the ranches in this region tend to be quite large, with a few offering public hunting opportunities. Antelope are typically absent from the forested areas in the northern part of the unit. Overall, antelope populations have remained stable, and the buck-to-doe ratio is high in this district.

This district is located in north-central Montana, north of Havre and Malta, and features a large expanse with the Canadian border marking its northern boundary. Antelope are dispersed throughout the area, inhabiting a combination of private, public, and state lands. Populations have declined following a significant winter die-off in 2010 and 2011. Although the herds are on the mend, numbers remain below historical levels.

This district is located in northeastern Montana. It is north of the Missouri River and the northern boundary is Canada. Good populations of antelope can be found here but herds tend to be widespread throughout the district. Hunters may need to put on a lot of boot and vehicle miles to locate animals. This district is mostly rolling grassland hills and a mix of CRP with dry land farming scattered throughout the district.

Unit 650 is home to several streams, coulees, and drainages that provide opportunities for stalking. There are enough breaks in the terrain as well that make for good stalking conditions. It also offers good glassing conditions. The eastern boundary of the district is the North Dakota state line. Antelope are found throughout the district, with higher concentrations in the southern half.

District 700 is one of the largest antelope hunting areas in the state and offers not only good hunting opportunities, but also stunning scenery. While it is possible to find good bucks in this district, you may need to put in some effort to locate them. The antelope population in this area is still recovering from the winter of 2011, but good bucks are still harvested each year.

Hunt District 701 is located north of Miles City and covers a vast area with numerous sagebrush flats, rolling grass ridges, and open prairies. This region offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of eastern Montana's prairies. The district is known for its large expanses of prairie and sagebrush flats, which provide good habitat for antelope. However, some parts of the area may be very flat, making it challenging to get close to antelope.

This hunt district is located between the Bighorn River and Tongue River in southeast Montana. The northern border in some areas is the Yellowstone River. This area has lots of private land and holds abundant numbers of antelope. Hunters can make the short drive from Miles City and Billings.

Unit 703 encompasses a significant region that covers large portions of Dawson, Wibaux, Richland, Prairie, and Fallon Counties. Its landscape is characterized by rolling grassy and sagebrush ridges, open prairies, and scattered breaks. This area is an excellent place to escape and appreciate the prairies of eastern Montana. During the early season, antelope can be found in small isolated groups that are rutting. Water holes can be a good source of hydration during dry years. As the season progresses, the size of antelope herds increase, and by the end of the rifle season, they can typically be found in very large herds.

Hunt District 704 is situated between the Tongue and Powder Rivers, offering a stunning landscape for hunting, characterized by rolling prairies, expansive sagebrush flats, forested buttes, and steep river breaks. Upland bird hunting can also be excellent, depending on the year. However, in recent years, a decline in animal numbers has resulted in fewer licenses being issued. While antelope are still present, hunting them has become considerably more challenging.

Hunt District 705 is located in the southeast corner of Montana, with the Powder River along its western border. This district is a stunning place to hunt, with rolling prairies, expansive sagebrush flats, forested timber buttes, and steep river breaks.