Unit 620

Sand Hills ridge system provides a dominant north-south feature for navigation and glassing. Green Mountain, Shell Butte, and Old Scraggy Peak serve as recognizable landmarks across the rolling terrain. The Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir form the southern boundary and drainage terminus.

Several named creeks—Emerson Creek, Warm Springs Creek, Cow Creek, and Suction Creek—function as natural corridors and navigation aids. The Plunge on Fort Peck Reservoir and Phillips Reservoir offer water reference points. These landmarks help orient hunters across the rolling country.

Terrain ranges from around 3,100 feet in the Missouri River bottoms to 5,700 feet on the higher ridges—all lower-elevation country with scattered ponderosa and Douglas-fir mixed through rolling grassland and sagebrush slopes. The landscape transitions from riparian willow and cottonwood along major creeks to open ridge systems where sheep find suitable terrain. Mid-slope benches and side hills provide patches of timber that break the rolling grassland matrix.

This elevation band supports a mix of open glassing country and timbered draws, typical of the Montana breaks.

Fair road access via a network of ranch roads and Charles M. Russell Refuge roads totaling roughly 80 miles, though exact density isn't quantified. Key entry routes include US Highway 2 at Saco in the north and Dodson access in the east, with multiple ranch roads branching into the unit. However, some roads cross private land, requiring permission or routing around.

The Fort Belknap Reservation boundary limits access on the eastern and southern portions. This moderate road system spreads pressure across several corridors, but the rolling, open terrain means sheep can see and avoid hunters from distance.

Unit 620 encompasses portions of Phillips, Valley, and Blaine Counties along the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation border and Missouri River breaks. The unit's eastern boundary follows the reservation line near Dodson, with the western edge defined by Suction Creek and Cow Creek drainages before dropping to the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir. Access roads include the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge road system and local ranch roads connecting Saco and the surrounding ranching country.

The unit occupies the transitional landscape between reservation lands and the larger river break complex.

Water is limited and requires careful planning. Major drainages include Suction Creek, Cow Creek, Emerson Creek, and Warm Springs Creek flowing toward the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir system. Springs exist but are scattered; the unit has documented spring locations that provide reliable water for sheep and hunters.

The Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir form the southern boundary but aren't practical water sources for most of the unit. Early season requires locating reliable springs; late season hunting may concentrate near perennial creeks. Spring water knowledge is critical for extended trips.

Unit 620 is mountain sheep country in rolling foothills rather than typical alpine terrain. Sheep here use the open ridges, benches, and broken cliff country throughout the rolling landscape. Success depends on glassing extensively from ridge saddles and high points—the Sand Hills ridge system and summits like Green Mountain offer vantage points for spotting sheep across the breaks.

Early season hunting focuses on higher ridges where sheep move as temperatures drop. Late season concentrates on south-facing slopes and lower drainages. Water knowledge matters; sheep are tethered to springs and reliable seeps.

Prepare for significant glassing time and expect to hunt from distance across open country. The moderate complexity and rolling terrain allow methodical stalking once sheep are located.