Unit 122-00 (Lower Clark Fork / Cabinet Face)

Montana Hunting Guide — Elk

HD 122 covers the lower Clark Fork River country and the eastern face of the Cabinet Mountains in northwestern Montana. Kootenai and Lolo National Forest lands dominate the public-land base. The 122-00 limited bull permit is a hard-to-draw opportunity — roughly 45 tags against 1,194 applicants over three years — reflecting the quality of mature bulls produced by the wet, timbered cedar-hemlock habitat.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 122-00

Where to Find Elk in HD 122

HD 122 elk occupy the wet timbered north-slope cedar-hemlock forests and the drier south-slope mixed conifer stands typical of the lower Clark Fork.

Cabinet Face

The eastern face of the Cabinet Mountains above Thompson Falls holds resident bulls. Access FSR 2274 and 2265 into the forested drainages that descend to the Clark Fork.

Cherry Peak / Rock Peak

This higher terrain on the Kootenai NF boundary holds bulls that rut in the upper basins in September. Early-season pack-in hunting here pays off for the few with tags.

River-Bottom Winter Transition

Late season, elk slide toward the Clark Fork corridor onto south-facing private-public interface ground. Check Block Management for the year's enrollment.

How to Hunt Elk in HD 122

Northwest Montana elk hunting in HD 122 is a wet-timber still-hunt game. Dark timber, moss-deadened footsteps, and tight shots define the experience.

Still-Hunt Cedar Benches

Move at 1 MPH through the cedar benches above the Clark Fork. Bulls bed in the blowdown and timber jackstraw — expect shots inside 50 yards.

Logging Road Intersections

Elk use old logging grades as travel corridors in the heavy timber. Set up at intersections with fresh sign during first and last light.

Glass the Clear-Cuts

The patchwork of clear-cuts and selective harvest on the Kootenai NF provides the only reliable long-distance glassing. Work the edges at dawn with a spotting scope.

Pro Members Only

Unlock HD 122 elk tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle23%

HD 122-00 permit holders historically harvest at 40–50% — FWP's limited-permit structure concentrates motivated hunters on a healthy bull population. Bull size in this wet timber country consistently produces heavy-antlered 6x6 animals. General license elk hunters in HD 122 see lower success in the 12–15% range.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— B License	22	670	3.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

HD 122-00 is among the harder-to-draw limited elk permits in the northwest region: roughly 45 permits against 1,194 three-year applicants. Expect to hold 6–8+ bonus points for realistic resident odds, and more for non-residents. Check FWP Drawing Statistics each year.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

⛺

Camp Sites

Dispersed USFS camping on the Kootenai and Lolo NFs. Developed options include Cabinet Gorge and Thompson River campgrounds.

💧

Water

Abundant year-round — creeks, seeps, and the Clark Fork provide reliable water. Filter everything.

🛣️

Road Conditions

Paved access on Hwy 200; gravel FSRs off the mainlines. Weather can rapidly deteriorate FSR surfaces after heavy rain.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. Dense timber and deadfall slow travel; elevation gains of 1,500–3,000 feet per hunt typical.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Light inside the HD core, moderate near the Highway 200 corridor.

🌦️

Weather

Wet Pacific maritime air keeps HD 122 cool and rainy through the hunting season. Expect 35–55°F and wet clothing — rain gear is mandatory.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Thompson Falls (20 min) for fuel, groceries, and motel options. Missoula (2 hours) for full services.

Note: Northwest Montana is grizzly country — bear spray and proper meat handling are essential.

Pro Members Only

Unlock HD 122 logistics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HD 122 a good general-license elk unit?

General-license hunters see moderate success (12–15%). The heavy timber makes finding elk work-intensive. Most of the 'trophy' stories come from 122-00 limited permit holders.

Do I need grizzly bear spray in HD 122?

Yes. The Cabinet Mountains harbor a recovering grizzly bear population. Carry bear spray, hang meat properly, and follow all food-storage rules.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

2026 Deer, Elk, and Antelope Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Hunting district (HD) boundaries, Season dates per weapon, Quotas for limited B/general licenses, Private-land hunting rules · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Elk Regulations Page — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Elk season structure, License type definitions, HD-level special regulations · accessed 2026-04-17
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
Kootenai National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Cabinet Mountains public land, Access road network · accessed 2026-04-17
Lolo National Forest — Plains/Thompson Falls RD — USDA Forest Service · supports: Lower Clark Fork forest coverage, MVUM access · accessed 2026-04-17