Unit 335

Gregory Mountain, Mount Helena, and Skihi Peak serve as major visual references across the unit's rolling terrain. Frohner Meadows and Bullion Parks are recognizable openings useful for navigation and potential moose habitat. The Warm Springs Creek and Beaver Creek drainages provide logical travel corridors through the forested country—water sources themselves and routes into productive areas.

Wheel Springs and Mudd Springs mark reliable water in otherwise drier ridge country. The Boulder Hills form a defining geographic boundary. These landmarks help hunters establish position in terrain that's forested enough to be disorienting without solid reference points.

The unit spans lower valley floors near 3,900 feet up to timbered high country above 8,200 feet, creating distinct zones. Lower elevations feature open meadow complexes like Frohner Meadows, Bullion Parks, and Horsethief Park interspersed with dense Douglas fir and lodgepole pine cover. Mid-elevation slopes transition from scattered ponderosa into thicker mixed conifer stands.

Upper reaches remain heavily forested with tighter timber and rocky outcrops. This elevation gradient supports the seasonal movement patterns moose use, with spring green-up in meadows and summer shading in the forest. The meadows are critical habitat—sparse enough to allow travel but vegetated enough for browsing.

The unit benefits from good road connectivity via Forest Service roads and maintained county routes, particularly Holmes Gulch Road, Hill Brothers Road, and Jackson Creek Road. This accessibility keeps pressure moderate to heavy in accessible drainages and meadows, especially near Helena's population. However, the rolling, forested terrain limits visibility and concentrates hunters in known access points.

Foot traffic deeper into timbered ridges and off-road drainages tends to be lighter. Early season can see significant pressure in meadow areas; hunters willing to hike steep timber often find quieter country. The unit is accessible but works better for those willing to get away from driveable roads.

Unit 335 occupies the forested foothills and drainages of the Helena mining district, bounded by Interstate 15 on the west near Montana City and extending east across Lewis and Clark and Jefferson Counties. The Continental Divide marks the southern and eastern boundary, while the Prickly Pear Creek and Boulder River drainages define portions of the north. This moderate-sized unit sits between Helena's urban fringe and the National Forest wilderness, capturing the transitional country where maintained roads give way to steeper terrain.

The nearby towns of Helena, Jefferson City, and Clancy provide staging points for access.

Water is limited but present in key locations, making it a critical hunting tool in this unit. Warm Springs Creek, Beaver Creek, and Spring Creek are perennial drainages running through productive cover. Several small reservoirs and Park Lake offer reliable water in some areas, though access to them varies.

Wheel Springs and Mudd Springs are marked water sources on drier slopes. Most creeks run diminished by mid-summer, so early season and fall hunts should focus on known springs and creeks. Moose in this unit are tied to water—locate the reliable sources and you locate the country's most likely holding areas.

Unit 335 is primarily moose country, with the unit supporting a modest population in the forested drainages and meadow complexes. Moose here use meadows like Frohner and Bullion Parks for feeding, particularly in spring and early summer, then retreat into timbered slopes for thermal cover during heat and hunting pressure. Early season hunting targets bulls in or near open feed areas during morning and evening movement.

Rut hunting (September) keys on water sources and rutting sounds through the denser timber. Late season pushes moose toward lower elevations and open parks. Success requires patience glassing meadows at dawn, then hiking to water sources and thick cover where bulls hole up.

The rolling terrain and scattered timber demand quiet foot work and willingness to hunt steep country off the roads.