Benton Lake WMD
Cascade County, MT
✓2 open✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
12.8K huntable acres
County guide · Montana · MT WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Powell County, MT
Powell County has 4 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 5,082 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Blackfoot WPA at 1,926 acres; the average tract is about 1,271 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Benton Lake Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 2,315 square miles and has roughly 6,946 residents. WPAs make up about 0.3% of its land area.
4named WPAs
5.1Kacres of WPA land
1,926largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Powell County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Powell County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfoot WPA 1,873 deeded ac |
1,926 | 48 mi E of Missoula | 46.96242, -112.98039 |
Map · Directions |
| H2-O WPA 1,802 deeded ac |
1,861 | 46 mi E of Missoula | 46.93867, -113.02291 |
Map · Directions |
| Kleinschmidt WPA 1,120 deeded ac |
1,172 | 44 mi E of Missoula | 46.96942, -113.06540 |
Map · Directions |
| Upsata Lake WPA | 123 | 39 mi E of Missoula | 47.07323, -113.22381 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Powell County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Montana regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Powell County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Missoula, MT45 mi — county center is E of town
- Helena, MT56 mi — county center is NW of town
- Stevensville, MT60 mi — county center is NE of town
- Butte, MT73 mi — county center is N of town
Shooting hours in Powell County
Today at Powell County
Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–
*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.
Full season calculator →2026–2027 season sun table
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:14 PM | 13h 24m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:46 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:14 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:47 PM | 10h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 5:18 PM | 10h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:04 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:59 PM | 9h 25m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:46 PM | 8h 50m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:43 PM | 8h 33m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:47 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:52 PM | 8h 35m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:43 AM | 8:13 AM | 5:07 PM | 8h 54m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:28 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:32 PM | 9h 34m |
Computed for 47.000, -113.054 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Powell County
Loading National Weather Service forecast…
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Powell County
Refuge hunt units in Powell County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open Moose | Benton Lake WMD | ✓Open | 10,616 |
| WPA Closed | Benton Lake WMD | ✕Closed | 2,190 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Flathead County, MT 7 WPAs · 8K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.