HD 312 covers the Gravelly Range and the upper Ruby River drainage west of the Madison Valley—a long, rolling mountain range with open grassland ridgetops, timbered drainages, and alpine meadows. Elevations range from about 5,500 feet in the Ruby Valley to over 10,500 feet on the Gravelly Range crest. The Gravellys are unusual for Montana mountains—the ridgetops are broad and grassy rather than rocky and jagged, creating open parkland above timberline that looks like Wyoming high desert transplanted to a mountain summit. The drainages are timbered with lodgepole, Douglas fir, and spruce-fir, and the bottoms hold willow and riparian meadows. Elk numbers are strong, and the open ridgetop terrain provides exceptional glassing opportunity. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest covers most of the range, with BLM and private ranch land in the lower valleys. The Gravelly Range Road (FR 290) runs along the ridgetop and provides spectacular access to high-altitude hunting terrain—when it's open. The road is high, exposed, and closes with early snow; check conditions before counting on it. Forest roads from the Ruby Valley and Madison Valley reach the lower drainages. Virginia City and Ennis are the nearest service towns. Cell service is nonexistent on the range. The open ridgetop terrain makes the Gravellys a glassing hunter's dream—you can sit a high point and glass miles of country, picking out elk herds on the parks and meadows below. The wind on the ridge is relentless and cold, but it covers your approach noise. The remoteness of the upper Gravellys keeps pressure manageable, and the elk herds here include mature bulls that benefit from the difficulty of access. Weather turns fast at these elevations—September blue sky can become October blizzard overnight. HD 312 (Gravelly Range / upper Ruby River) is a glassing hunter's dream — the open, grassy ridgetops of the Gravelly Range allow you to sit a high point and glass miles of country, picking out elk herds on parks and meadows below. General elk tags are available OTC for residents. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest covers most of the range. No designated wilderness exists. The Gravelly Range Road (FR 290) runs along the ridgetop and provides spectacular high-altitude hunting access — when it is open. The road is high, exposed, and closes with early snow. Bull-to-cow ratios are good because the remoteness of the upper Gravellys keeps pressure manageable. Block Management on lower-valley ranches provides additional access. The open ridgetop terrain is unusual for Montana mountains — broad and grassy rather than rocky and jagged — creating parkland above timberline where elk are visible at long range. Wind on the ridge is relentless and cold but covers approach noise. Virginia City and Ennis are the nearest service towns. Weather turns fast at these elevations — September blue sky can become October blizzard overnight.