Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area
The Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area is located between the towns of Deer Lodge and Avon, Montana.
The area is accessed from Deer Lodge via Jake Creek Road and from the Avon area via Trout Creek Road.
Currently, the road through the WMA is open year-round; however, the road may be subject to winter closures in the future, and is not maintained in winter months.
The WMA is open seasonally, and closed during winter months, following FWP guidelines. More information on this can be found on the FWP Spotted Dog page located here:
https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/landsMgmt/siteDetail.action?lmsId=39754722
MSU Elk Study
In recent years, the road through Spotted Dog was gated and access was limited. Following many discussions with landowners, Montana FWP, USFS, and Montana State University, the road through Spotted Dog is open.
Using the recent reopening as an opportunity, Montana State University students initiated a study to investigate elk behavior in response to increased traffic. The study is ongoing through 2027.