Unit 700

Fort Peck Reservoir dominates the north, its eastern shore providing navigation reference and water access. The Musselshell and Missouri Rivers form the primary travel corridors and defining geographic features. Key uplands for orientation include the Long Pines and Ekalaka Hills in the south and east, plus scattered buttes (Gracy Butte, Eagle Rock, Black Butte) useful for glassing.

Medicine Rocks and the breaks near Hole-in-the-Rock provide notable terrain features. Numerous named benches and tables (Morgan Table, Threemile Table, Broadview Bench) help break up the scale and serve as staging areas for hunting high country.

Terrain ranges from low river bottoms near 1,900 feet to upland benches and ridges reaching nearly 4,800 feet, with most country sitting in the 2,500 to 3,500-foot band. The landscape is predominantly open—sagebrush-dominated plains and grasslands with scattered islands of ponderosa pine on north-facing slopes and higher benches. Riparian vegetation—willows, cottonwoods, and aspen—lines the major rivers and perennial creeks, creating distinct habitat corridors through otherwise dry country.

The breaks and badlands near the rivers are cut by numerous coulee systems that funnel water and concentrate vegetation seasonally.

Extensive road network (15,000+ miles) sounds substantial but density is low given the unit's vast size—roads are scattered rather than concentrated. State Route 200 bisects the unit east-west and provides main access. Secondary roads push into river breaks and ranch country, but many are private or deteriorate into rough ranch tracks.

Most pressure concentrates near accessible river access points and reservoir shoreline. The unit's sheer size and sparse road density actually favor hunters willing to hike away from developed areas. Limited public land means careful navigation of ownership boundaries is essential.

Unit 700 encompasses the Musselshell River drainage and Missouri River breaks in Garfield and McCone Counties, bounded by State Route 200 on the south and the Fort Peck Powerhouse on the north. The unit includes the eastern portion of Fort Peck Reservoir and extends down the Missouri River to its confluence with the Musselshell. This is vast, sparsely settled country with a handful of small towns (Vananda, Kirby, Bascom) serving as staging points.

The geography transitions from lower elevation plains and river flats to rougher badlands and canyon country, creating significant elevation variation across the unit's expanse.

The Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir are the primary water features, flowing through the entire unit's backbone. The Musselshell River enters from the south and meets the Missouri within the unit boundaries. Reliable sources include Big Dry Creek, Little Dry Creek, and dozens of named springs scattered through the breaks.

Many smaller creeks and coulees run seasonally; spring and early summer offer better water access than late season. Riparian willow stands along rivers and major tributaries are critical for moose habitat and wildlife movement corridors, making water knowledge essential for locating animals.

Unit 700 is moose country above all else. Focus hunting on riparian corridors—willows along the Missouri River, Musselshell River, and major creek drainages are where moose spend most time. Early season means checking high benches and upland draws for bulls moving to rut areas; rut activity concentrates in river bottoms and accessible coulee systems where cows aggregate.

The badlands breaks provide terrain for glassing to locate distant animals, then hiking in to accessible drainage bottoms. Water knowledge is critical—moose need to drink regularly, so knowing reliable springs and creek flows determines success. The scale requires either base-camping strategically or being prepared for long daily travel.