Judith River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Judith River Wildlife Management Area is 9,397 acres of land managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Region 4, inside Hunting District 420. FWP lists antelope, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer among the animals that may be hunted here. FWP's rule for the area: Opens at noon on May 15.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: FWP's page for Judith River WMA, read 2026-10-17. Boundary: FWP GIS.
National forestBLMState trust landFWP landJudith River WMAHunting district lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 9,397 acres (FWP) |
|---|---|
| FWP region | Region 4, North-central Montana |
| Hunting districts | HD 420 |
| Rules | Opens at noon on May 15. |
| Camping | Allowed (FWP) |
| Hunter access | See travel plan map. Travel plans specifies open/closed roads and specific parking/camping locations. |
| Elevation | 5166 ft |
| Nearest towns | Sapphire Ridge (next to it), Utica (8 mi) and Windham (12 mi) |
What are the rules on Judith River WMA?
Opens at noon on May 15. A travel plan map sets the open and closed roads and the places to park and camp.
Hunter access, as FWP puts it: See travel plan map. Travel plans specifies open/closed roads and specific parking/camping locations.
FWP prints a map of the area with its roads and rules: Judith River WMA map (PDF). Hunting follows the regulations of the district the ground is in.
What can you hunt on Judith River WMA?
FWP lists these big game animals for Judith River WMA: antelope, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer.
Which hunting districts is Judith River WMA in?
All of Judith River WMA lies in Hunting District 420. 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 420 Judith River WMA-Sage Creek | 9,394 | 80 (2025) | 130 (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 Judith River WMA?
From U. S. Highway 87 at Windham (seven miles east of Stanford), take paved route 239 south for 11 miles to Utica; from Utica take the main gravel road heading southwest along the north side of the Judith River for nine miles to Sapphire Village; then turn right on the first road just past the village and proceed 1.5 miles west to the Judith River WMA headquarters.
Nearest towns: Sapphire Ridge (next to it), Utica (8 miles), Windham (12 miles) and Stanford (15 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Judith River WMA open?
Opens at noon on May 15, by FWP's rule for the area. Hunting seasons are set by the district's regulations.
What can you hunt on Judith River WMA?
FWP lists antelope, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer for hunting or trapping on Judith River WMA. Each species follows the regulations of the hunting district the ground is in (HD 420).
Can you camp on Judith River WMA?
FWP lists camping as allowed on Judith River WMA, with pack in/pack out and primitive campsite. Follow the area's posted rules.
Which hunting district is Judith River WMA in?
All of it is in Hunting District 420 (Judith River WMA-Sage Creek).
Get a Montana hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Montana are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Montana included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, species, facilities and directions: FWP, Judith River 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.