Featured Image Photo Credit: Montana Department of Commerce, visitmt.com
Montana is where people go to experience nature at its most pristine. And when it comes to the native creatures who inhabit this great state, well, Montana puts the “wild” in Wild West.
While there are some species you’d rather not see at close range — grizzly bears, black bears, moose and mountain lions, to name a few — there are countless other thrilling creatures you can observe at a safe distance. Elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, bald eagles, golden eagles…the list goes on. No matter what it is you catch a glimpse of, remember you’re in their home — please give them the distance and respect they deserve. (That goes for your four-legged friends, too. Leashes are a must.)
So pack your binoculars (and your patience) and get ready for a front seat to some of the best wildlife viewing in North America.
Photo Credit: Montana Department of Commerce, visitmt.com
Slippery Ann Elk Viewing Area
Although it sounds as if it might be named after a pioneer woman of ill repute, it’s actually a butchered name of a nearby creek whose original name, “Cyprian,” was hard to pronounce. Either way, Slippery Ann Elk Viewing Area on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge still has quite the reputation as a spot where elk gather for the rut. Up to 500 elk converge near the Missouri River at the western edge of this 1.1-million-acre refuge. The sounds of bugling and locking antlers during dominance displays alone are worth the trip. Dispersed camping is permitted on the refuge outside the viewing area, with first-come, first-served sites at Upper and Lower Slippery Ann, Jones Island and Rock Creek Boat Launch, all equipped with vault toilets. For more organized camping, or if you have a bigger rig, James Kipp Campground offers designated RV and tent spots along the water.
Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area
If you time it right, north-central Montana’s Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area delivers one of nature’s most dramatic commutes. Each March, hundreds of thousands of snow geese and tundra swans rest here during their spring migration north, transforming the lake into a chaotic, honking, feathered metropolis. The annual Wild Wings Festival in nearby Choteau has grown around this spectacle, offering guided tours, speakers, workshops and film screenings for both rookie birders and those who can identify a warbler by its sneeze. Primitive, first-come, first-served camping is available right on the banks of Freezout Lake.
Photo Credit: Montana Department of Commerce, visitmt.com
CSKT Bison Range
The CSKT Bison Range on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana offers the chance to go back in time, to when the great American bison roamed the prairies in massive herds before nearly being hunted to extinction in the late 19th century. Roughly 350 bison live here, managed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department. The range features two scenic drives (one open year-round, one closed in winter) and a visitor center that digs into the deep history of bison on these lands. While camping isn’t available on the range itself, you’ll find options nearby: Jocko Hollow Campground sits 16 miles away with tent and RV sites, and Diamond S RV Park is roughly 18.5 miles out. These are privately owned, so no tribal recreation permit is needed to stay there — though if you’re planning to recreate on tribal lands, you will need a permit. Different types of recreation require different licenses, so check here for the most up-to-date information before you set out.
Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range
Out in the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range near Billings, wild horses roam freely on land they share with bighorn sheep and some 200 bird species, including peregrine falcons. Late spring through early fall offers your best odds of spotting the horses, because they drift into mountain meadows come summer. Managed primarily by the Bureau of Land Management, the area — one of only four wild horse ranges in the country — allows dispersed camping along roads on BLM land, or you can set up camp at Trail Creek Campground in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Photo Credit: Montana Department of Commerce, visitmt.com
How to Stay Safe (and Keep Wildlife Wild)
These animals do not exist for your social media feed — they have teeth, hooves, antlers and a complete lack of interest in your personal safety. Give them space — a lot of it. Please don’t feed them — not even the cute little ones. Secure your food and trash, leash your pets, carry bear spray and know how to use it before you need to.
Come Prepared
Wildlife doesn’t wait for perfect conditions, and Montana weather is notoriously fickle. Pack layers like Montana-made merino wool apparel from Duckworth, which regulates temperature whether you’re in the heat of July or the snow of November.
To watch the critters without crowding them, bring quality binoculars and tripods like those from Belgrade, Montana-based Aziak Equipment.
And if you’re planning to explore more rugged terrain, consider a setup like Go Fast Campers’ rooftop wedge campers — they’re built in Montana to withstand the diverse topography and conditions throughout the state.
Remember that the best wildlife encounters happen when you slow down, stay quiet, and pay attention. If you’re patient, Montana’s critters will give you a glimpse of what “wild” actually means.
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