10/25/2024
General rifle season for elk and deer begins on October 26th and runs through December 1st. During this time, Southwest Montana experiences more traffic and people than usual. Please be vigilant and respectful as you recreate or hunt on public lands.
Keep in mind that fall conditions in Southwest Montana can range from freezing temperatures one day to warm and dry condition the next. Be prepared for changing weather.
Fires
If you build a campfire, never leave it unattended, and put it completely out prior to leaving camp. Escaped campfires that become wildfires can result in suppression efforts that require closures.
W**ds
Please wash your vehicles thoroughly before you head out to the forest. W**d seeds can lodge under ATVs and in pickup beds and wheel wells. If you’re bringing animals, only certified, weed-free hay, straw, seed, and feed can be brought into the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. You can help preserve wildlife habitat and stop the spread of noxious weeds by making sure your feed is clean.
Driving
The Forest Service 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 designated routes and not drive cross-country on the forest.
Food storage & bears
A food storage order is in effect for the entire Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Keep a clean camp and keep all attractants stored in a hard sided vehicle or enclosed trailer. For more on food storage and recreating safely in bear country, check out the BDNF bear aware page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/bdnf/learning/safety-ethics/?cid=FSEPRD1138824
Camping & dumping
There's a 16-day limit on camping in any one site. Keep your camp at least 200 feet from any lake or stream to avoid harming the soft soils near the water and pack out what you pack in. Empty your sewage and wastewater tanks in places and facilities set up for this purpose.
Carcass storage
Plan for animal carcass storage while camping. Bring storage for the carcass in the form of a truck with topper, enclosed trailer, horse trailer with full doors, or certified bear resistant containers. If you use hanging poles, the carcass must hang ten feet high at its lowest point and four feet away from climbable supports and must be 100 yards away from your camp.
