Unit 104 (Anaconda / Upper Clark Fork)

Montana Hunting Guide — Elk

HD 104 encompasses the terrain around Anaconda and the upper Clark Fork River drainage in Deer Lodge and Granite Counties. The unit includes portions of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and the surrounding Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, offering some of southwest Montana's most rugged elk country. Heavily timbered slopes rising from valley floor at 5,000 feet to the Anaconda Range peaks above 10,000 feet support a strong elk herd. The wilderness provides a true backcountry refuge that maintains mature bull populations despite consistent hunting pressure on accessible terrain.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 104

Where to Find Elk in HD 104

Elk in HD 104 exploit the full elevation range of the Anaconda Range — from 5,000-foot valley floors to 10,000-foot ridgelines in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. Seasonal movement from high summer range to lower-elevation wintering areas creates predictable migration patterns that hunters can intercept.

Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness (September–October)

The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness interior holds the unit's best early-season bull elk. Access from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest via trailheads off MT-1 near Anaconda and the Georgetown Lake area places hunters within reach of wilderness country that sees minimal pressure. Bulls in the upper basins above 8,000 feet are extremely responsive to calls during the September rut.

Mid-Elevation Timber and Parks

At 6,000–8,000 feet, the timbered ridges and open parks connecting the wilderness boundary to the valley floor hold elk through much of rifle season. South-facing parks with grass and forb regrowth after historical burns concentrate elk for feeding. North-facing timber provides bedding cover. Focus hunting on the transition between these aspects.

Late Season and Clark Fork Valley

Hard snow in November pushes elk off the Anaconda Range into the Clark Fork drainage. Valley-edge BLM and USFS land near Anaconda and Warm Springs can hold large concentrations of wintering elk. This late-season opportunity is worth targeting if early hunting at elevation fails.

How to Hunt Elk in HD 104

HD 104 rewards hunters with wilderness experience. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness interior provides the highest-quality hunting but demands multi-day pack-in trips. Hunters without backcountry capability can find solid elk action on national forest land adjacent to the wilderness.

Wilderness Pack-In Access

The Pintler Loop Trail system and tributary drainages off the main wilderness corridors provide access to basins that see very few hunters. Plan a 5–7 day pack-in camp for wilderness hunting with horses or a backpacking setup. Focus on the upper basins where bulls are concentrated during the rut with minimal competition from other hunters.

Road-End Day Hunting

For hunters without stock or extended time, the national forest road system around Anaconda and Georgetown Lake provides access to the roadless country just outside the wilderness boundary. Hike 2–4 miles from road ends to reach elk that have shifted away from early-season pressure. The timbered benches and saddles at road-end elevation (7,000–8,000 feet) produce well for rifle hunters.

Georgetown Lake Area Calling

The Georgetown Lake corridor on the eastern side of HD 104 offers archery hunters accessible high-country calling terrain. The drainage systems above the lake hold elk in early September and are reachable with a day pack from trailhead parking.

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Elk Success Rates

HD 104 elk success averages 14–20% for rifle hunters, with wilderness hunters significantly outperforming road-accessible areas. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness's roadless interior maintains mature bull populations with more favorable bull-to-cow ratios than heavily roaded units. Archery success runs 6–10%. The unit's moderate pressure level and extensive public-land base make it a strong choice for hunters seeking wilderness elk hunting within reach of the Anaconda area.

Elk Draw Odds

Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.

Search Montana Draw Odds

General season cow-elk licenses in HD 104 are typically over-the-counter for Montana residents. Bull and non-resident tags follow the standard southwest Montana drawing structure — check current FWP regulations for HD 104-specific requirements. The FWP Drawing Statistics portal at myfwp.mt.gov provides historical applicant counts and quota data.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Anaconda (15–30 min from main trailheads) has full RV services. Georgetown Lake has seasonal Forest Service campgrounds that accommodate RVs.

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Camp Sites

Georgetown Lake USFS campgrounds. Dispersed camping throughout Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF. Backcountry camping in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness unrestricted on designated sites.

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Trailer Access

Anaconda area roads are paved. Forest roads approaching wilderness trailheads range from good gravel to rough 4WD — horse trailer access depends on specific trailhead.

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Water

Excellent in all major drainages and near Georgetown Lake. The upper wilderness basins have reliable snow-fed water sources into October. Treat or filter all water.

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Road Conditions

MT-1 and the Georgetown Lake loop road provide main access. Forest spur roads to wilderness trailheads can be rough and require high-clearance vehicles. Snow closes higher roads by late October.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. The Anaconda Range features rugged high-mountain terrain with 2,000–4,500 foot vertical gains on day hunts into the wilderness. Expect challenging route-finding on off-trail approaches.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate near trailheads; light in wilderness interior. Anaconda-area hunters create consistent early pressure near road access points. Wilderness hunting sees minimal competition.

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Weather

The Anaconda Range sits in a zone that collects significant snowfall. Snow can arrive at elevation by mid-September. Rifle season (October) regularly brings temperatures well below freezing at high elevation. Prepare for winter conditions.

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Cell Service

Spotty near Anaconda and along MT-1. Absent in wilderness areas and most forest drainage interiors. Satellite communicator essential for wilderness hunts.

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Nearest Town

Anaconda for full services including fuel, lodging, and meat processing. Deer Lodge (40 min) provides additional services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What wilderness is in HD 104?

HD 104 includes portions of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, a 158,000-acre designated wilderness area in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Bitterroot National Forests. The wilderness offers some of Montana's best backcountry elk hunting with minimal competition from other hunters.

Is HD 104 elk hunting good for non-residents?

HD 104 is a strong non-resident option for hunters seeking wilderness-caliber elk hunting in southwest Montana. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness provides quality bulls and low pressure. Non-residents must apply through the FWP drawing for Big Game Combination licenses.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

Montana Big Game Regulations 2025-26 — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 104 species list, Season dates, Permit structure, Wilderness regulations · accessed 2026-04-18
FWP Hunt Planner — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 104 boundary geometry, Public-land layers, Wilderness boundaries · accessed 2026-04-18
FWP Harvest Reports — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Per-HD harvest totals, Hunter success rates · accessed 2026-04-18
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Historical draw odds, Applicant counts · accessed 2026-04-18