Click on the map above for regional info.
You can order an access guide between June 1 and December 31. Guides will be shipped beginning mid August.
To request a Block Management Access Guide, please send an email along with your name, mailing address, city, state, and zip to fwpwld@mt.gov.
You may also stop by regional offices to pick up a 2018 guide.
There are two versions of the map. The "view" version is one 17" x 22" page and is for ease of viewing on the website. The "print" version is four 8.5" x 11" pages and is made to print at home.
Region 7 BMA Interactive Mapping System
NOTE: The bridge is closed at Moorhead crossing the Powder River on Rough Creek Ranch, BMA #423. You cannot access the BLM campground via Moorhead Rd. The only access to the BLM campground is via East River Rd South.
Cooperators have enrolled 2,138,356 acres to form 259 Block Management Areas in Region 7.
In 2019, there are 259 Block Management Areas (BMA’s) that provide access to 2,138,356 acres of private, state, and federal lands. Similar to other FWP Regions, Region 7 (R7) has Type 1 and Type 2 BMA’s, which give hunters flexibility in gaining permission. About one-third of Region 7 BMA’s are Type 1 and two-thirds are Type 2. In general, Type 1 BMA’s allow the hunter to administer their own permission, while Type 2 BMA’s require obtaining permission from the landowner or a representative. Regardless of permission type, please keep in mind that BMA’s are comprised wholly or partially of private lands. As a hunter you have the privilege to access these lands and your behavior will play an important role in the future of Montana’s hunting heritage. Good luck and be safe!
The Region 7 staff encourages hunters to share their experiences on specific BMA’s. Please return comment cards to sign-in boxes and/or mail in the self-addressed, postage paid comment cards. These comments are used to improve the program as well as to show your appreciation to cooperating landowners. Pictures from your hunt are also an effective way to share your experience and can be emailed to fwpr7bmp@mt.gov. Along with comment cards, the pictures will be shared with the landowners to express your gratitude.
Region 7 produces, on average, one-quarter (25%) of the state’s annual mule deer harvest; 10% of the state’s white-tailed deer harvest (17% of the total statewide deer harvest); 35% of the state’s annual antelope harvest; and 5% of the state’s elk harvest. The Region supports populations of six species of upland birds and a variety of waterfowl to provide diverse hunting opportunities.
Antelope are common throughout Southeastern MT (R7). Hunting Districts (HD) 701 and 705 are traditionally the more productive antelope districts.
Isolated but expanding populations of elk exist throughout Region 7. Primary elk hunting opportunities are located in the northern portion of HD 700 as well as the southern portion of HD704.
Mule Deer are common throughout Southeastern MT (R7). HD 704 and 705 are traditionally the more productive mule deer districts.
White-tailed deer can be found across the region associated with riparian and agricultural habitats. HD 701 and 703 offer the majority of white-tailed deer habitat.
Six species of upland game birds occur in Southeastern Montana. Native birds include sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse and the migratory mourning dove. Non-native species are the ring-necked pheasant, Hungarian (gray) partridge and Merriam’s turkey. Sharp-tailed grouse are well dispersed throughout the region. Pheasant numbers are generally stronger in the NE portion of the region but can be found concurrent to major riparian areas throughout the region. Turkeys are generally found across the region in association with riparian bottoms and forested areas where adequate cropland food sources exist.
Several species of waterfowl can be found throughout the region in stock ponds, reservoirs and major river systems. Excellent late-season Canada goose hunting opportunities are present along the Yellowstone River Valley. The Yellowstone River, below the high-water mark is closed to waterfowl hunting from the mouth of the Big Horn River east to the Rosebud/Custer County line. Waterfowl hunting is legal off the river on adjacent land (See waterfowl regulations).
Included in this Guide is a regional map depicting the general location, identification number, and permission type for each BMA. There is also an associated chart that is organized by county and arranged in order by the BMA number. This chart gives general information for each BMA. The information in this chart will help locate the hunting opportunities you wish to pursue. It is important to recognize each BMA cooperator utilizes their own management style; this may include limits on daily hunter numbers, vehicular travel restrictions, pasture assignments, temporary closures, etc... The following outlines the procedure to request additional information for individual BMA’s:
Again, Type 1 BMA’s are hunter administered (see step 2 above). For Type 2 BMA’s, landowner contact information will be given for up to 5 BMA’s per phone inquiry. Contact information usually consists of the name and phone number of the person(s) with authority to grant permission. When you are contacting landowners to secure permission to hunt, please abide by the specified calling times for the cooperator. When call times are not specified, please call between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM Mountain Time. Due to the volume of calls received, landowners are not required to and should not be expected to return phone calls. While obtaining permission to hunt BMA’s within R7, please keep the following administrative rules/policies in mind:
Approximately 10% of the total land base in FWP Region 7 is enrolled in the Block Management Program, leaving a substantial amount of land and associated hunting opportunities for hunters to explore. As a result, hunters are encouraged to consider these alternative opportunities and not limit their hunting activities to only Block Management Areas.
Region 7 is comprised of primarily private land (76%). Although the region hosts the largest Block Management Program with 259 BMA’s, enrolling approximately 1.56 million private acres (8%) of the 19.2 million acres of private land in Region 7, hunting access can often be obtained on non-Block Management private property throughout much of the region by respectfully asking for hunting permission. Always remember to “Ask First” before hunting on private land.
In Region 7, there are over 3.8 million acres of public ownership (BLM, State Lands, National Forest Service and National Wildlife Refuge). This assortment of public land constitutes a land base composition of 18% federal land and 6% State of Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) land. Public lands are accessible via public roads or waterways, adjacent public land and adjacent private land with landowner permission. Hunting activities on federal lands are subject to both state and federal regulations. Some legally accessible tracts of Department of Natural Resource Land (State School Trust Land) are formally enrolled in the Block Management Program. Formally enrolled State Land must be posted with contact information for the method of obtaining permission. If a BMA contains formally enrolled State Land, it will be noted in the Access Guide and on the map. Please contact regional FWP staff to verify accessibility and use rules for accessing public lands contained within BMA boundaries.
FWP administers Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) throughout the region, each of which provides some hunting opportunities. WMAs in the region include:
WMA maps available online in our Hunt Planner
FWP also administers numerous Fishing Access Sites (FASs) and State Parks (SPs) throughout the region that provide some hunting opportunities. These sites include:
Maps available online in our Hunt Planner
Maps available at the Region 7 FWP office in Miles City