Unit 704

Chimney Rock stands as a notable landscape feature visible across considerable distance. The Tongue River Reservoir and several smaller impoundments (Snyder, Roberts Gulch, Fletcher, Gaskill, Dunning, Goodspeed Draw) mark water concentrations. Elk Ridge and Jack Creek Divide provide minor topographic breaks for navigation and orientation.

The Pine Hills and Blue Mountains form subtle ridgelines useful for glassing. Government Hill and the various buttes (Chico, Long, Stag Rock) serve as distant reference points across the open country. Suicide Pass and other gaps mark travel corridors through slightly elevated terrain.

Terrain ranges from roughly 2,200 feet in the lowest valleys to nearly 4,800 feet on the higher benches—all within the semi-arid zone. Most country sits between 3,000 and 4,000 feet where sagebrush grassland dominates with scattered juniper and pine on elevated ridges. Vegetation is sparse; open prairie interspersed with low shrubland and occasional draws with cottonwoods and willows.

The Pine Hills and Blue Mountains provide slightly higher relief but remain relatively open. Taintor Desert and the numerous flats reflect the arid character; this is short-grass prairie country, not timbered terrain.

Over 2,600 miles of roads crisscross the unit, but most are county and ranch roads with limited development. Interstate 94 provides northern access; US Highway 12 forms a major corridor. State Route 59 and Route 332 offer reasonable entry points.

However, road density obscures reality—much of this vast unit sees light hunting pressure due to its size, remoteness, and sparse water. Ranch roads and private land create access restrictions despite the apparent road network. The hardest part isn't reaching the unit but finding water once there.

Early season and shoulder times likely see fewer hunters than peak periods.

Unit 704 encompasses roughly 3,000 square miles across Big Horn, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Prairie, and Rosebud Counties in southeastern Montana. The southern boundary follows the Montana-Wyoming line, while the northern edge reaches Interstate 94 near O'Fallon Creek. The Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations form the western boundary; the Tongue River drainage defines a major interior landmark.

Towns like Broadus, Powderville, and Birney serve as reference points, though much of the unit remains sparsely populated. The boundary encompasses classic high-plains country with a mix of public and private land.

Water is the limiting factor in this unit. The Tongue River dominates the western portion and reliably holds water year-round. Badger Creek, Elk Creek, Horse Creek, and Hackley Creek drain portions of the unit but run intermittently.

Scattered reservoirs and impoundments provide reliable water where present—critical knowledge for hunting strategy. Natural springs exist but are sparse and require knowing their exact locations. Ditches associated with ranching operations (Terry Main Canal, Quarter Circle U Ditch, and others) supplement water availability in certain areas but aren't reliable for hunting access.

Plan water sources carefully.

This unit's sole species—pronghorn—thrives on the open, semi-arid plains and benchland. Low elevations mean early and late seasons offer consistent temperatures; summer heat can be brutal. Pronghorn congregate near reliable water sources, making reservoirs and spring-fed creeks focal points.

The wide-open terrain favors long-range glassing from ridges and benches; expect to see animals at distance and plan stalks accordingly. Road access allows vehicle scouting, but most hunting requires spotting from vantage points, then closing distance across open country. Water knowledge separates productive hunts from fruitless ones—scout and locate reliable sources before the season.