Visit Us
The Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District is comprised of six Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and numerous conservation easements. The WPAs are open to hunting, trapping, wildlife observation, and wildlife photography. The easements are privately owned and closed to the public unless landowner permission is granted. WPAs include: War Horse WPA, Hailstone WPA, James L. Hansen WPA, Spidel WPA, Tew WPA, and Clark's Fork WPA. Four satellite Refuges also reside in the District and include: Hailstone, War Horse, Lake Mason, and Grass Lake. Information on these WPAs and Refuges can be found in the "About Us" page.
Wildlife commonly observed on the District include waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, upland game birds, grassland nesting birds, small mammals, mule deer, pronghorn, horned lizards, and rattlesnakes.
What to Bring
Binoculars, a backpack, and water are all essential items to bring any time you venture out to recreate on any public land. Additional helpful items are boots to protect your feet from prickly pear cactus, weather-appropriate gear, and bug repellant for the seasonally plentiful mosquitoes found on the WPAs.
General Travel
As with traveling in any remote area, please keep emergency supplies, a full spare tire, and an eye out for changing weather or roads conditions in order to stay safe while enjoying these places. No off road mechanized travel is permitted and is prohibited by federal law. Please stay on established routes and roads.
Activities
Activities on the Wetland Management District range from wildlife viewing, hunting, trapping permitted species in season, fishing in designated areas, landscape and wildlife photography.
Please see the "Rules and Policies" section of this page for more information.
Related Documents
The Wetland Management District map shows the Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and easements, as well as satellite National Wildlife Refuges residing within the District.
Rules and Policies
The below rules and regulations govern visiting and hunting on District WPAs: Tew, Spidel, Hailstone, War Horse, James L. Hansen, and Clark's Fork.
Hunting, trapping, and fishing on the Wetland Management District WPAs is subject to Federal and State regulations. A Montana hunting license is required, and a Montana fishing license is required for Clark's Fork WPA. Please consult the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Hunting Regulations for seasons, licenses, permits, and bag limits.
*Satellite National Wildlife Refuges residing within the District have different and unique regulations to them. Please navigate to their website before visiting those Refuges.
Access
• Access into WPAs is by foot only.
• Any boat use must be non-motorized and hand-carried to the water.
• Please park in designated parking areas or along access roads.
Hours
• Hunting hours follow State regulations.
Authorized Public Uses
• WPAs are open to hunting, trapping, wildlife observation and wildlife photography. Clark's Fork WPA is also open to fishing.
Hunting Regulations
• Hunting for waterfowl, upland game birds, and big game in compliance with all applicable State hunting regulations is permitted on the WPAs.
• Steel or other non-toxic shot must be used to harvest waterfowl and upland game birds. Possession of lead shot in the field is prohibited.
• Non-motorized boats are allowed on the wetlands for hunting, but they must be hand-carried to the water.
• Portable blinds and other personal property, such as decoys, must be removed each day.
• Decoys may not be placed or set earlier than three hours before legal shooting time on the day of the hunt and must be removed no later than three hours after legal shooting time.
Prohibited Activities
• Shooting prairie dogs.
• Hunting, trapping, or killing any wildlife species, predatory or otherwise, not requiring either State regulations for taking, a license, and/or classified by the State under MCA 87-6-101 as "non-game species". Such species include, but are not limited to: coyotes, rabbits, hares, snakes, red fox, badgers, skunks, weasels, porcupines, etc.
• The use of trail or game cameras.
• Offroad mechanized travel.
• Drone use.
• Camping, to include vehicle or tent, and fires.
• Bird dog training using game birds - wild and/or captive-reared.
• Geocaching.
• Collecting or removal of any wildlife, parts thereof, nests, natural and cultural items.
• Fireworks and/or their possession.
• Target shooting - archery or firearm.
Firearms
Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32).
Firearms may only be fired in conjunction with a legal hunt for which the hunter is licensed.
We ask that you please help make a difference and help protect District lands and your wildlife resources when visiting. Please report wildlife violations and suspicious activity any time you see them to an officer. Every set of eyes and tips are helpful to officers. To report a violation, please email NWR_TIPs@fws.gov 24 hours a day or call:
NWR Violation Reporting Hotline: 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477)
State hunting and fishing violations: 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668)
In non-emergency events or for general law enforcement questions, contact the CMR Headquarters (406)-538-8706 and ask to be directed to the officer who works in the area where you have questions. Please be advised that our officers are usually in the field, so leaving messages in their direct voicemail is often the best way to get in touch with one.
Locations
Clark’s Fork WPA
Clark’s Fork WPA is located 28 miles south of Laurel, Montana and approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Bridger, Montana. From Bridger, drive north 0.5 mile on Highway 310. Turn east on a gravel road (Teesdale Lane) for 0.5 mile; the road jogs north and ends at the parking lot. The road into the WPA is an all-weather gravel surface but snow may prohibit travel into the unit during winter.
Spidel WPA
Spidel WPA is 31 miles northwest of Billings, MT and located approximately 2 miles northeast of Broadview, Montana. From Broadview, turn east on 21 Mile Road, and drive 0.5 mile. Then turn north on graveled Cemetery Road for 1.5 miles to reach the WPA. Wet weather can make the gravel road impassable with very little rainfall so please watch for changing weather conditions.
Tew WPA
Tew WPA is 43 miles northwest of Billings, MT and is located approximately 12 miles northeast of Broadview, Montana. From Broadview, turn east on 21 Mile Road, and drive 7.5 miles. Then turn north on Oswald Road, and drive 4 miles. From Oswald Road, turn east onto Daily Road, and drive 4.5 miles to the WPA. Wet weather can make any of these gravel roads or trails impassable with very little rainfall, so please watch for changing weather conditions.
War Horse WPA
War Horse WPA lies adjacent to War Horse Reservoir and between two War Horse Unit land sections of the Refuge. It is located approximately 7 miles northeast of Teigen, MT. From Grass Range, drive east on Hwy 200 for 11 miles to the old town of Teigen. Then, turn north on Blakeslee Road, and drive 6.5 miles until you see the lake. At the cement bridge, turn east on the dirt trail that leads to the lake.
Hailstone WPA
Hailstone NWR is located approximately 5 miles east of Rapelje, MT. From Rapelje, turn east on the Molt-Rapelje Road and drive 4 miles to the Hailstone Basin Road. Turn north and continue 1/2 mile to the parking area.
James L. Hansen WPA
This WPA is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Molt, Montana. From Molt, drive the Molt Rapelje Road north and west 5.3 miles until intersecting with Pony Lane. Continue west from there on the Molt Rapelje Road approximately 3 miles until reaching Dannenburg Road, then turn south down an unmarked gravel road for .4 miles until reaching the parking area of the WPA and Big Lake Wildlife Management Area.