Tips for Bitterroot Hunters

The Bitterroot National Forest would like to provide some helpful tips to hunters.

All hunters during the firearm deer season should wear “hunter orange” (hat, cap, vest, jacket or rain gear). It must be the outermost garment and be visible from all sides. Also, put an orange vest or bright bandana on pets (dogs, horses, etc.)

Hunters should treat every firearm as if it were loaded and be careful where they point the muzzle.

Hunters should be sure of their target and the area beyond it.
Don’t take any chances with a loaded firearm.

Know where your hunting partners are at all times and never assume you are alone in the woods.

Leave a trip itinerary with family or friends. If hiking by one’s self and don’t have family or friends in the area with whom you could leave an itinerary with, leave an itinerary in the vehicle.

Every hunter should carry: map, compass, flashlight, extra food and water, extra clothes, sunglasses, first-aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, and firestarter.

Take a Wilderness First Aid Course.

If you plan on drinking water from streams or lakes, don’t forget a water filter or chemical purification.

Be aware that there may be bears in the area, store food properly. Also, carcasses should not be closer than 100 yards to your sleeping area.

Your cell phone can save your life, but don’t depend on having sufficient coverage, particularly in remote parts of the Bitterroot National Forest.

Don’t become someone our local search and rescue crews need to find! Be prepared!

Forest Service crews are still in the field, working on projects. Please be careful and be cognoscente that there may be crews in the area. We will also have crews out patrolling on the weekends.

Please follow the ‘Pack It In, Pack It Out’ and ‘Leave No Trace’ principles while camping.

Please follow all Bitterroot National Forest rules & regulations

The Bitterroot National Forest has many roads and trails open to motorized travel, but some roads and trails are closed this time of year. All vehicles must stay on existing routes and not drive cross-country. Most seasonal use restrictions include the period from October 15 to December 1. These types of restrictions help to reduce hunting pressure on big game animals during the general hunting season by effectively increasing the size of security areas. Road use restrictions that increase security areas allow Fish, Wildlife & Parks to maintain desired elk numbers and herd structure without imposing additional restrictions on hunters such as shorter seasons, antlerpoint restrictions, and limited licenses. Road use restrictions that continue beyond December 1 (usually until June 15) help to reduce disturbance to big game animals during the winter and/or calving seasons. Roads and trails with these longer restricted periods tend to be in the lower elevation areas that provide big game winter range. It is illegal to park in front of and block a closed gate, as administrative and/or emergency vehicles may need access.

Due to the recent winds, many trails that were cleared during the summer season now have trees across the trails again. Please be prepared that you may need to clear some trees for passage. Carry a saw with you, and if you plan to go into the wilderness areas, be sure to have a cross cut or bow saw as chainsaws are prohibited in Wilderness. Call 821-3269 for trail condition information.

You may drive up to 300 feet off a road or trail to reach a temporary camping spot. Throughout the national forest, vehicles are also prohibited on roads or trails that are narrower than the vehicle. Do not drive around barricades, gates, or snow drifts. Barricades and gates are meant to close a road, frequently for the benefit of wildlife. Violations of these closures can result in fines. Please check the maps for the travel rules in the area that you are interested in.

Campers, hunters and others are not allowed to camp for more than 14 consecutive days in one location. New camps must be located five air miles from the previous camp.

Shooting and/or hunting is prohibited in developed recreation sites, such as within the Lake Como Recreation Area.

Remember to do your part with preventing weeds in the Bitterroot National Forest. The invasive weed situation can still get much worse on our public and private lands from many new invaders that aren’t here yet. Please help protect our wildlife habitat, water quality, fisheries and native vegetation by following a few simple practices. Your involvement can make all the difference.

If you use horses, mules, goats or llamas anywhere on National Forests, BLM, and State lands in Montana, you’re required to bring in only certified weed free hay, cubes, pellets or grain. All National Forests in Idaho require certified weed free hay and cubes. In the past, contaminated feed introduced invasive weeds to many prime wildlife backcountry areas. Help stop new invaders from getting started.

Power wash the undercarriage and inside / outside of the bumpers of your trucks, horse trailers, ATVs or other vehicles that you drive into the hills. Invasive weed seed can travel over a thousand miles on vehicles and bounce out at the wrong time on our rough mountain roads. If you have any questions about invasive weeds, call the Bitterroot Forest Invasive Plant Program at 821-2318.

In Montana, outfitters and guides must be licensed to operate on federal, state, as well as private lands unless it’s their own. Be sure your guide or outfitter is licensed. Call the Montana Board of Outfitters at (406) 841-2370 or Idaho Outfitter and Guide Licensing Board at (208) 327-7380 for more information.

The Forest currently provides two areas for disabled hunting – Gold Creek (8 miles of road) on the Stevensville Ranger District and Basin Creek (16 miles of road) on the West Fork District. Sula Ranger District is working on an additional area located in Schultz Saddle; call the Sula Ranger District for more information. These areas are for individuals with “Disabled/Hunt from Vehicle” on their state hunting Licenses. Both areas are set up to allow two disabled hunters, with assistants, to drive the roads in the area each day. The limitation to two vehicles per day is intended to minimize vehicle traffic and disturbance to animals.

Please notify the Forest Service if a violation or resource issue is observed (example, driving behind a locked gate, camping for more than the 14 days, tree blocking road, washout, etc.)

Be sure to stop in one of our offices to get a Bitterroot National Forest map. Our maps are sold in two parts, split into the North and South halves of the forest. Their prices are $9 for paper maps, and $10 for the water-proof version. Office hours for our locations are M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We have five locations in the valley:

Forest Supervisor’s Office
1801 N. 1st
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 363-7100

Stevensville Ranger District
88 Main
Stevensville, MT 59870
(406) 777-5461

Darby Ranger District
712 N. Main
Darby, MT 59829
(406) 821-3913

Sula Ranger District
7338 Hwy. 93 S.
Sula, MT 59871
(406) 821-3201

West Fork Ranger District
6735 West Fork Rd.
Darby, MT 59829
(406) 821-3269

Good luck to our local hunters!