Unit 270

Shook Mountain and Medicine Point anchor the central ridgeline and serve as major glassing stations. The Lewis and Clark Ridge runs north-south through the unit, offering long sightlines for spotting sheep on distant slopes. Several named saddles—Guide Saddle, Lick Creek Saddle, Mink Creek Saddle, Porcupine Saddle, and Bear Creek Saddle—provide passage through the high country and logical camps.

Alpine basins including Ross Hole, Hole in the Wall, and French Basin concentrate animals during summer and offer natural gathering areas. Blue Mountain, Coyote Peak, and Sula Peak provide additional reference points. Star Falls marks a major water feature in the upper country.

These landmarks are critical for navigation on foot and for planning glassing routes.

Terrain rises from approximately 4,000 feet in canyon bottoms to over 9,400 feet at the highest ridges and peaks. The unit transitions from lower sagebrush and ponderosa slopes through mixed conifer forests to open alpine meadows and rocky terrain above timberline. Scattered timber dominates much of the mid-elevation country, becoming increasingly dense in the lower drainages.

Higher basins like Ross Hole and Hole in the Wall support alpine grass and sparse vegetation—prime sheep country. The steepness of the range creates abrupt elevation changes; terrain suitable for sheep often sits adjacent to dense forest pockets, requiring hunters to understand micro-topography and how sheep use the transitions between habitat types.

Nearly 900 miles of roads exist within or touching the unit, but most are forest roads penetrating only the lower drainages and canyon bottoms. Trailheads are accessible via FS roads, but the bulk of sheep hunting country requires foot travel. US 93 provides regional access from the north; the West Fork road offers eastern approach routes.

The terrain complexity and steep nature of the country naturally limit casual traffic—most pressure comes from experienced mountaineers and dedicated sheep hunters. Early season sees scattered use; remote basins and high ridges see minimal pressure from lower-elevation recreationists. The unit is big enough and steep enough to absorb effort, but it demands competency with maps, elevation gain, and navigation.

Unit 270 covers the Bitterroot Range backcountry in Ravalli County, bounded by US 93 to the north, the West Fork Bitterroot Road to the east, and the Montana-Idaho border to the south and west. The Continental Divide forms part of the eastern boundary. This is true mountain country, positioned between the accessible West Fork drainage and the remote alpine wilderness along the state line.

The unit encompasses multiple sub-drainages—Rye Creek, Wiles Creek, Warm Springs Creek, Porcupine Creek, and Camp Creek—that define the hunting geography. Natural features like Shook Mountain and Medicine Point serve as key orientation points within this steep, complex terrain.

Water is scarce and scattered. Trapper Creek, Sheeps Head Creek, and Medicine Tree Creek are the primary drainages with reliable flow, but much of the alpine country depends on seasonal springs and snowmelt. Key springs include Gallogly Spring, Gallogly Hot Springs, Clough Springs, and Pollywog Spring—their location relative to sheep concentrations determines camp placement.

Base Creek, Wiles Creek, and Warm Springs Creek support water in their upper reaches but may dry down mid-summer. High alpine lakes (Charity Lake, Carmine Lake, Faith Lake, Hope Lake, Fish Lake, Hidden Lake, and others) provide water during snow-fed months but are unreliable by late summer. Hunters must scout water sources early or plan camps near confirmed springs.

Dry periods force sheep into specific valleys and basins where water persists.

This is pure bighorn sheep habitat, with terrain designed specifically for their needs—steep, rocky slopes providing escape terrain, windswept ridges offering vantage points, and high basins concentrated animals seasonally. Early season hunting focuses on high alpine basins and meadows where sheep summer; expect to glass from 8,000 feet and above. The key is finding water—sheep must drink, and in the limited-water environment, reliable springs concentrate animals.

Plan camps near springs or lakes with confirmed summer flow. Spot-and-stalk tactics dominate; use saddles and ridgelines to move between glassing positions while minimizing exposure. Accuracy and woodmanship are secondary to getting above and beyond sheep before approaching.

Most successful hunts involve multiple days of high-country travel, so fitness and expedition capability are essential. Hunt breaks between timber patches and open benches where sheep transition during thermal changes.