Haymaker Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Haymaker Wildlife Management Area is 1,334 acres of land managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Region 5, inside Hunting District 540. FWP lists black bear, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer among the animals that may be hunted here. FWP's rule for the area: Open from noon May 15 to December 1.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: FWP's page for Haymaker WMA, read 2026-10-17. Boundary: FWP GIS.
National forestBLMState trust landFWP landOther publicHaymaker WMAHunting district lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 1,334 acres (FWP) |
|---|---|
| FWP region | Region 5, South-central Montana |
| Hunting districts | HD 540 |
| Rules | Open from noon May 15 to December 1. |
| Camping | Allowed (FWP) |
| Hunter access | Walk-in access from established roads. |
| Elevation | 5703 ft |
| Nearest towns | Martinsdale (11 mi), Twodot (14 mi) and Sapphire Ridge (18 mi) |
What is Haymaker WMA for?
FWP bought Haymaker WMA in 1957, about 15 miles north of Twodot on the southeast edge of the Little Belt Mountains, as elk winter range away from private land. Grassy benches and coulees run south from the timber; water is limited to Morrissy Coulee, which runs part of the year, and two ponds.
From FWP's Haymaker WMA page.
What are the rules on Haymaker WMA?
Open from noon May 15 to December 1. A travel plan map sets the roads open to motor vehicles; walk-in from established roads. Bears are present; follow the food storage rules. FWP's 2026 regulations list it as closed to all hunting December 2 to May 14.
Hunter access, as FWP puts it: Walk-in access from established roads.
FWP prints a map of the area with its roads and rules: Haymaker WMA map (PDF). Hunting follows the regulations of the district the ground is in.
What can you hunt on Haymaker WMA?
FWP lists these big game animals for Haymaker WMA: black bear, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer. Also listed: blue grouse.
Which hunting districts is Haymaker WMA in?
All of Haymaker WMA lies in Hunting District 540. 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 540 Southeast Little Belt Mountains | 1,334 | 205 (2025) | 281 (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 Haymaker WMA?
Driving Directions: Travel 11 miles west of Harlowton on U.S. Highway 12. Turn right onto Haymaker Road and travel 7.4 miles to Olaf Road. Turn left on Olaf Road and travel 6.8 miles to Morrisy Road (No. 6518). Turn left on Morrisy Road (No. 6518) and travel 3 miles to the southern boundary of the Haymaker WMA.
Nearest towns: Martinsdale (11 miles), Twodot (14 miles), Sapphire Ridge (18 miles) and Harlowton (21 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Haymaker WMA open?
Open from noon May 15 to December 1, by FWP's rule for the area. Hunting seasons are set by the district's regulations.
What can you hunt on Haymaker WMA?
FWP lists black bear, blue grouse, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer for hunting or trapping on Haymaker WMA. Each species follows the regulations of the hunting district the ground is in (HD 540).
Can you camp on Haymaker WMA?
FWP lists camping as allowed on Haymaker WMA, with pack in/pack out and primitive campsite. Follow the area's posted rules.
Which hunting district is Haymaker WMA in?
All of it is in Hunting District 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, species, facilities and directions: FWP, Haymaker 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.