The Blackloot-Clearwatcr WMA has become one of western Montana's premier elk winter ranges. In the 1940s, only a few elk mingled with 1,200 cattle and 6,000 sheep. Today 1,400 elk migrate from their summer wilderness home in the Bob Marshall Wilderness to spend the winter on land where cattle grazing is carefully prescribed. Elk in winter need native grasses for food, forests for shelter from wind and deep snow, and a haven from human disturbance.

To protect the elk from disturbance in the winter, yon must watch from pullouts along Highways 83 or 200. Scan the grassy slopes with binoculars at dawn or dusk in December, January or late March.

This WMA is open to the public during May 15-November 15. Reprinted from brochure “Blackfoot Valley Wildlife Viewing Guide.”