Big Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Big Lake Wildlife Management Area is 3,371 acres of land managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Region 5, inside Hunting District 515. FWP lists antelope and mule deer among the animals that may be hunted here. FWP's rule for the area: Open all year.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: FWP's page for Big Lake WMA, read 2026-10-17. Boundary: FWP GIS.
BLMState trust landFWP landNational wildlife refugeOther publicBig Lake WMAHunting district lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 3,371 acres (FWP) |
|---|---|
| FWP region | Region 5, South-central Montana |
| Hunting districts | HD 515 |
| Rules | Open all year. |
| Camping | Not listed in FWP's area data |
| Hunter access | Refer to current hunting regulations for hunting and weapons restrictions. |
| Nearest towns | Rapelje (10 mi), Broadview (14 mi) and Park City (16 mi) |
What is Big Lake WMA for?
Big Lake WMA lies in the Hailstone Basin, the last lake in a chain that includes Hailstone and Halfbreed National Wildlife Refuges. FWP bought it for waterfowl nesting and migration habitat. Its main hunting is waterfowl, upland birds, pronghorn and mule deer; it has no fishing.
From FWP's Big Lake WMA page.
What are the rules on Big Lake WMA?
Open all year. Motor vehicles stay on authorized roads and parking areas; motorized boats are allowed only for lawful hunting. Camping only in the designated camping area. No target or clay shooting, fireworks or campfires. Trapping by written permission from FWP's Billings office.
Hunter access, as FWP puts it: Refer to current hunting regulations for hunting and weapons restrictions.
FWP prints a map of the area with its roads and rules: Big Lake WMA map (PDF). Hunting follows the regulations of the district the ground is in.
What can you hunt on Big Lake WMA?
FWP lists these big game animals for Big Lake WMA: antelope and mule deer. Also listed: coots, ducks, geese, gray partridge (Hungarian partridge), mourning dove, sharp-tailed grouse and swans.
Which hunting districts is Big Lake WMA in?
All of Big Lake WMA lies in Hunting District 515. Each district's FWP harvest estimate, for the whole district, not the WMA alone:
| District | WMA acres in it | Elk harvested (district) | Deer harvested (district) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD 515 Painted Robe | 3,371 | 340 (2025) | 1,095 (2025) |
Harvest: FWP Harvest Estimates (elk and deer, 2020 to 2025). WMA acres in each district measured by FilledTag from FWP's boundaries.
How do you get to Big Lake WMA?
From Billings, travel 15 miles northwest to Molt on Molt Rd. Continue northwest on Molt-Rapelje Rd 4.5 miles to Wheat Basin Rd. One access point is located on Molt-Rapelje Rd. Two more access points on the west side of WMA are located on Wheat Basin Rd. Access points are signed.
Nearest towns: Rapelje (10 miles), Broadview (14 miles), Park City (16 miles) and Acton (17 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Big Lake WMA open?
Open all year, by FWP's rule for the area. Hunting seasons are set by the district's regulations.
What can you hunt on Big Lake WMA?
FWP lists antelope, coots, ducks, geese, gray partridge (Hungarian partridge), mourning dove, mule deer, sharp-tailed grouse and swans for hunting or trapping on Big Lake WMA. Each species follows the regulations of the hunting district the ground is in (HD 515).
Can you camp on Big Lake WMA?
FWP does not list camping on Big Lake WMA.
Which hunting district is Big Lake WMA in?
All of it is in Hunting District 515 (Painted Robe).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, species, facilities and directions: FWP, Big Lake WMA.
- Boundary and acres: FWP wildlife management area boundaries. Surrounding public land: Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
- District harvest: FWP Harvest Estimates (elk and deer, 2020 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.