Unit 106 (Middle Fork Flathead / Great Bear Wilderness)

Montana Hunting Guide — Moose

HD 106 spans the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and the southern edge of Glacier National Park, encompassing the Great Bear Wilderness on the Flathead National Forest. Shiras moose use the river bottomlands and tributary drainages in this rugged northwest Montana unit. Limited tag quotas and high applicant pressure make this one of the toughest moose draws in the region.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit 106

Where to Find Moose in HD 106

Moose in HD 106 concentrate in the Middle Fork Flathead corridor and the tributary creek bottoms entering from the Great Bear Wilderness. Riparian willow and alder stands provide the primary forage throughout the unit.

Middle Fork Bottomlands

The main Middle Fork valley from Essex west to the unit boundary hosts consistent moose in the willow flats and gravel-bar edges. Bulls are most visible at dawn and dusk during feed periods.

Great Bear Wilderness Tributaries

Side drainages entering the Middle Fork from the Great Bear Wilderness offer more remote moose hunting with virtually zero pressure. Access requires either foot travel or pack strings along wilderness trails.

How to Hunt Moose in HD 106

HD 106 rewards hunters who are willing to penetrate the Great Bear Wilderness interior. Road-accessible river bottom receives light but consistent pressure; the wilderness backcountry is largely untouched.

Wilderness Access

Trails along Muir Creek and Schafer Meadows provide wilderness access. Pack a spike camp into productive moose country and hunt the tributary willow systems away from the main river.

River-Bottom Glassing

From elevated benches above the Middle Fork, glass willow-lined channels at first light. Bulls feed briefly before moving into timber cover by mid-morning.

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Moose Success Rates

Success rates for HD 106 moose permit holders are generally high — typically 65–80% — as only committed hunters apply for this difficult-access unit. Backcountry harvest requires significant logistical planning for meat care and pack-out.

Moose Draw Odds

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

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HD 106 moose is a very competitive draw. The combination of low quotas and high applicant demand means most successful applicants hold 8–12 bonus points. Once-in-a-lifetime rules apply in Montana.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Essex area dispersed camping; backcountry wilderness camps along Schafer Meadows trail system.

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Water

Abundant — Middle Fork Flathead and wilderness tributary streams throughout.

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Road Conditions

US-2 provides paved access to Essex; wilderness interior is foot/horse travel only.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous for wilderness portions; flat river bottom near highway.

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Hunting Pressure

Very light — few permits and difficult backcountry access.

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Weather

Cool and wet in September; early October snowfall possible at elevation. Grizzly country.

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Nearest Town

Whitefish (50 min) for full services; Essex roadhouse for limited supplies.

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Permit Notes

Limited-entry moose permit required. Apply through FWP special drawing.

Note: Wilderness meat care logistics must be planned before the hunt — no vehicle access inside the Great Bear Wilderness.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is HD 106 wilderness country?

Much of HD 106 is within or adjacent to the Great Bear Wilderness. Road access exists along US-2 near Essex, but the most productive moose habitat requires backcountry foot or horse travel.

Are grizzly bears present in HD 106?

Yes — HD 106 has an active grizzly bear population. Bear spray, proper camp food storage, and rapid meat care are required practices for all hunters in this unit.

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Sources & Verification

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

FWP Moose Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Moose season structure, Once-in-lifetime rules, HD-level quotas · accessed 2026-04-18
FWP Hunt Planner — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD boundary geometry, Public-land layers (BLM/USFS/SLB/Block Management), Block Management Areas + Walk-In · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Historical draw odds by license/permit code, Applicant and quota counts, Bonus points progression · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Harvest Reports — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Per-HD harvest totals, Hunter success rates, Game check-station data · accessed 2026-04-17
Flathead National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Glacier NP / Flathead NF public land, Access roads and wilderness trailheads · accessed 2026-04-18