Montana Unit 413 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Montana Unit 413 sits in a large 878,034-acre block of hunting country with elevations ranging from 3,313 feet up to 9,178 feet, giving hunters a wide range of terrain to work with — from lower-elevation river breaks and foothills to high-country timber and ridgelines. For deer hunters researching this unit, the numbers tell a story of a solid, working-class Montana deer unit that produces consistent opportunity without the fanfare of a marquee limited-entry unit.

With 42% public land, Unit 413 leans toward a mixed ownership pattern — meaning a majority of the ground is in private hands, but there's still meaningful public access for hunters willing to do their homework. There's no designated wilderness within the unit (0%), so hunters aren't dealing with pack-in-only regulations or stock-supported camps to reach huntable ground — most of the terrain here is reachable by vehicle and foot without the logistical overhead that wilderness units demand.

This article breaks down what the data actually shows for Unit 413 — harvest trends, trophy potential, access realities, and the application process — so hunters can decide whether this unit deserves a spot on next year's application list.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 413 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available through HuntPilot, Unit 413 is a reasonable option for hunters prioritizing opportunity and accessible terrain over trophy potential alone. The harvest numbers are the strongest data point here: in 2023, 5,568 hunters pursued deer in the unit and 1,488 tagged out, a 27% success rate. In 2021, a smaller pool of 3,804 hunters posted a 31% success rate with 1,163 animals harvested. That's a meaningful year-over-year swing — success dropped six percentage points even as hunter numbers grew by nearly 1,800 — which suggests increasing hunting pressure may be diluting per-hunter success, a pattern worth watching in future harvest reports.

Trophy potential in the counties overlapping this unit is best described as moderate. There's a real history of trophy-class deer coming out of this area, but it's not a unit defined by exceptional or elite trophy production. Hunters chasing a genuine trophy-caliber buck should treat Unit 413 as a solid opportunity unit rather than a dedicated trophy destination — the kind of place where a patient, mobile hunter willing to get off easy access points has a real shot at a mature deer, but where showing up expecting a record-book animal on demand isn't supported by the data.

The 42% public land figure is the other major factor in this equation. With the majority of the unit in private ownership, DIY hunters need to be strategic about where they focus effort — public parcels will see concentrated pressure, especially given the hunter volume already documented in the harvest numbers. Hunters who do their scouting homework using HuntPilot's public land mapping tools to identify accessible blocks, rather than assuming broad public access across the unit, will be far better positioned than those who show up cold.

Overall, Unit 413 earns a place on the application list for hunters who value consistent harvest opportunity, don't require wilderness solitude, and are realistic about trophy expectations. It's not a unit to chase for a once-in-a-lifetime giant, but the harvest data shows real, repeatable success for hunters putting in the effort.

Harvest Success Rates

The two most recent harvest data points for Unit 413 show a unit that consistently produces tags filled, even as pressure fluctuates:

• 2023: 5,568 hunters, 1,488 harvested, 27% success
• 2021: 3,804 hunters, 1,163 harvested, 31% success

The jump in hunter participation between 2021 and 2023 — roughly 46% more hunters afield — while success dropped from 31% to 27%, is a pattern hunters should factor into their planning. More bodies on the same public ground generally means more competition for the same deer and less solitude, particularly on the accessible public parcels within the unit's 42% public land base. Hunters targeting Unit 413 should expect company, especially near easy access points, and should plan to move further from roads and popular pull-offs to find less-pressured deer.

Still, a success rate in the high-20s to low-30s percent range across multiple thousand hunters is a respectable, sustainable harvest pattern for a mixed-ownership deer unit. It's not an easy unit where nearly every hunter fills a tag, but it's far from a low-odds grind either.

Trophy Quality

Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit 413 point to a moderate trophy history — meaning there's documented production of quality bucks over time, but this isn't a unit with an exceptional or elite trophy pedigree. It's worth noting that record-book entries are logged at the county level, not unit level, so any trophy history attributed to this area is shared with neighboring units whose boundaries fall within the same counties. The animals behind those records could have come from anywhere within that broader county footprint.

Practically speaking, this means hunters should approach Unit 413 with realistic expectations: a mature, respectable buck is achievable, and the moderate trophy history confirms the genetics and habitat exist to grow good deer. But hunters chasing an exceptional or elite-class trophy buck as their primary goal should understand this unit isn't among the state's top-tier trophy producers based on the available records. Those willing to hunt hard, scout thoroughly, and pass on immature deer early in the season have the best shot at pulling a quality buck from this moderate-but-real trophy base.

Access & Terrain

Unit 413 covers a big footprint — 878,034 acres — with elevation spanning from 3,313 feet to 9,178 feet. That range gives hunters options: lower-elevation terrain tends to hold deer earlier in the year and offers easier access, while the higher country near 9,178 feet will demand more physical effort and typically sees less pressure simply because fewer hunters make the climb.

Public land sits at 42% of the unit, which means the majority of the ground is privately held. This is a critical planning factor — DIY hunters cannot assume broad access across the landscape and need to identify specific public parcels before the season, rather than relying on general assumptions about "Montana public land." Because there's no wilderness designation (0%) within the unit, hunters won't run into the special access restrictions that come with designated wilderness — no stock-only or foot-only mandates, and no nonresident guide requirements tied to wilderness status. This makes the unit more approachable for hunters running a truck-and-boots operation rather than a full pack-string outfit.

Given the private-land majority, hunters should lean heavily on mapping tools — HuntPilot's public land layers are built for exactly this kind of unit, where knowing precisely where public boundaries fall can be the difference between a productive hunt and a frustrating one. Scouting trips or thorough digital scouting before the season to identify legal access points, road systems, and public/private boundary lines will pay dividends given how much of Unit 413 sits in private hands.

How to Apply

Note that Montana requires hunters to hold a qualifying license before applying — the license fee listed above is separate from and in addition to the application fee and tag fee. Nonresident hunters especially should budget for all three costs (application fee, license fee, and tag fee) when planning for this draw.

For current draw odds and year-specific updates, check HuntPilot's Montana state page at /states/mt, which tracks the latest application windows and results as they're released.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Montana page at /states/mt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Montana Unit 413? The unit spans a wide elevation range from 3,313 feet to 9,178 feet across 878,034 total acres, offering a mix of lower-elevation terrain and higher country. There's no designated wilderness in the unit, so most of the terrain is accessible without pack-in-only restrictions, though the higher-elevation ground still requires more physical effort to reach and typically sees less pressure as a result.

What is harvest success like in Unit 413? Recent harvest data shows success rates of 27% in 2023 (5,568 hunters, 1,488 harvested) and 31% in 2021 (3,804 hunters, 1,163 harvested). Hunter numbers grew substantially between those two years, which likely contributed to the drop in success rate, but both years show a sustainable, repeatable harvest pattern for hunters willing to put in effort.

How big are the deer in Unit 413? Trophy records from the counties overlapping this unit point to a moderate trophy history — meaning quality bucks have come from this area over time, but it isn't among the state's top-tier trophy-producing regions. Hunters can realistically pursue a mature buck here, but those specifically chasing an exceptional or record-class deer should treat this as a solid opportunity unit rather than a trophy destination.

Is Unit 413 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing consistent harvest opportunity and accessible, non-wilderness terrain, yes — the harvest data supports realistic success expectations in the high-20s to low-30s percent range. Hunters chasing an elite trophy buck as the sole objective should temper expectations given the unit's moderate trophy history, but as a well-rounded opportunity unit, it holds up.

How much public land is available in Unit 413 for DIY hunters? Public land makes up 42% of the unit, meaning the majority of the ground is privately owned. DIY hunters need to identify specific accessible public parcels ahead of time rather than assuming broad access — using mapping tools like HuntPilot's public land overlays is strongly recommended before committing to a scouting or hunting plan in this unit.