Backcountry Hunt Camps
Hunt deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Circle 8 Hunt Camps
We hunt both the early and general seasons for rifle. Our early season Montana hunting camps are at Strawberry Creek and Big River Meadows. These camps are in elk and deer District 151 in the Flathead National Forest. Both camps are in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, which is home to one of Montana’s largest big game herds. Our late season Montana hunting camp is on the South Fork of the Two Medicine River in elk and deer District 415 in the Lewis & Clark National Forest. This area is a narrow strip of country between the Bob Marshall Great Bear Wildernesses and Glacier National Park. All backcountry camps are accessed by horseback and pack mule train. Our camps are clean, efficient, and well equipped to support a true wilderness hunt.
Early Season Camps
Strawberry Creek Camp
Type
Major Drainage at Middle Fork Headwaters
Best For
Early Season Elk
Status
2017 burn area
2004 old growth timber burn
Overview
This hunting camp is on a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River at the head end of Strawberry Creek. Strawberry Creek is a major drainage in the headwaters of the Middle Fork. This valley is about 14 miles long, and our camp sits in the top end of last 2 miles. It is a broad glacially carved valley with a mix of fresh burn (2017), old burn (2004), and old growth timber. The ridges are mainly open. The continental divide is 2 miles north, and here is a low pass dropping you either into the South Fork Badger Creek or Beaver Lake and Cox Creek. We use this camp as our primary early season unguided hunting camp in September. It is approximately a 8-hour ride from the nearest trailhead.
Gateway Gorge Camp
Type
Tributary of the Middle Fork / Flathead River on Gateway Creek
Best For
Prime Elk and Mule Deer
Feature
Bottomland timber and open slopes of the Continental Divide
Overview
This camp is on a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River on Gateway Creek at the upper end of Gateway Gorge. The gorge is aptly named, as it is hemmed in by 1,500 foot vertical limestone cliffs gouged open by glaciers in the last ice age. This route was preferred by the Flathead Indians when the came from the western Montana mountain valleys to hunt big game on the east slopes of the Rockies. Thus, it was their “gateway” to summer hunting, as Gateway Pass on the continental divide is easily crossed with loaded stock. We use this camp as our primary early season guided hunting camp in September and October. It is approximately a 7 1/2-hour ride from the nearest trailhead. Strategically located between bottomland timber and open slopes of the Continental Divide, this camp has quick access to prime elk and mule deer country.
Late Season Camps
Two Medicine River Camp
Type
Southfork of Two Medicine River
Best For
Prime Elk and Mule Deer
Feature
Timbered headwater basin, intermixed open country
2018 burn, 2004 old burn
Overview
This camp is located on the South Fork of the Two Medicine River. It is approximately a 2-hour ride from the nearest trailhead. It is our general season guided camp. Our close proximity to Glacier National Park allows us to hunt the residential elk herds as well as some elk migrating out of the park to their wintering grounds. The valley is wide mix of terrain. There is old growth timber, old burn (2004) and new burn (2018), with regrowth and open country intermixed. The ridges are mostly open and there are vast open meadows at the head end of this valley. We hunt up under the continental divide, which is timbered headwater basins as long as they snow holds off. We use this camp for our late (general) season guided hunts in late October and early November. By November, we can usually count on snow at this camp.
Camp Size
We typically limit the size of the early season Montana hunting camps to six hunters per trip in the early season camp. Camps of this size are consistent with the quality of hunt we provide. We are fortunate that our hunting areas are strategically located such that we can disperse hunters widely into quality areas. We will gladly accommodate hunting parties smaller than six. There is no extra charge for small groups. We will also take single hunters in the guided camps. If multiple, independent groups want the same hunt, we may choose at our discretion to combine them in the same camp. Unguided and guided hunts are not mixed, but we may choose to fill hunts up to a maximum of six hunters in a guided camp and up to four hunters in an unguided camp.
We typically limit the size of the general season elk and mule deer hunting camps to four hunters per trip. Camps of this size are consistent with the quality of hunt we provide and give us a good chance of getting guys on animals.
Food and Accommodations
Our commitment to quality and service applies to everything we do. We do not cut corners with equipment, livestock or supplies. We think you would be hard pressed to find a cleaner, more comfortable, more professional camp in the mountains. There is a limit to comfort in the backcountry, but we make every effort to furnish the essentials for a high-quality camp. This includes comfortable cots to keep you off the ground at night, large heated wall tents for sleeping, large tables and benches in a comfortable dining tent, and some of the best food in the mountains. We make it a priority to serve hearty, filling meals. Breakfast and dinner are served in camp. Sack lunches are prepared for the day’s hunt away from our Bob Marshall Wilderness camp. Meals prepared in camp are complete with lots of meat, fresh vegetables, and delightful desserts.