Lake Pasture offers private duck and goose hunting on 50 acres of field and small creek on the south shore of Lake Helena, off Merritt Lane about 7 miles north of East Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The property is your way in to the east section of the NorthWestern Energy easement, which runs from the field to the lakeshore in the heart of the Pacific Flyway.
The field and creek sit right next to a waterfowl rest area that stays closed to hunting, so ducks and geese can settle in undisturbed. Birds trade back and forth between the rest area, the creek, and surrounding feed, which gives you steady chances as they come and go. Set up along the creek or the field and be ready from first light.
Your party of up to four hunters has the private parcel to itself. Entry is through a locked gate off Merritt Lane, and the gate code is sent to you in the app before your hunt. Drive north from the gate to the designated parking spot and walk in from there. The easement is open to the public, so you may see other hunters along the shore.
This is a 1-day walk-in shotgun hunt, with the season running from early October into January. Portable blinds come out at the end of each day. The rest area west of the canal is closed to all entry, hunting, and shooting. Helena is about 10 miles southwest for hotels, restaurants, and supplies.

Lake Pasture sits right on Lake Helena, some of the best waterfowl country in the Helena Valley. The lake and the surrounding wetlands draw ducks and geese through the fall migration, and the rest area on the property’s western border gives birds a safe place to stay put instead of moving on. That keeps birds in the neighborhood, and the small creek and open field give them reasons to move. Ducks use the creek to loaf and feed, while geese and ducks alike cross the field between water and feed. Watch the flight lines in the first hour of daylight, set up under them, and stay well concealed.

Reservation fees are due at the time of booking and are non-refundable. 100% of the outdoorsman fee will process 48 hours prior to your hunt.

Adventures must be cancelled 48 hours or more prior to the hunt. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the hunt may be subject to full or partial charges. If applicable, IO will work with you to reschedule.

If there is a lapse in availability, please do not be discouraged to reach out to IO. All calendars are set and managed by landowners, and unavailability is set by them. However, IO is willing to reach out on your behalf, to check on available dates. Other reasons for unavailable dates include biologist recommended hunter/harvest quotas that landowners implement, as well as state season dates not being released.

1-Day Hunt.

No draw is required. Montana waterfowl licenses are sold over the counter. Every hunter needs a Montana Conservation License, Base Hunting License, and Migratory Bird License, plus a signed Federal Duck Stamp and HIP registration for the current season. Licenses are available online at fwp.mt.gov.

You are not legally allowed to access the property, for any adventure, prior to your selected access day. If you try to access the property at all before your selected date(s), without prior approval from IO, you will be subject to trespassing and punishments therein

Hunting District 388 is one of the tougher antelope draws in Montana. Montana residents with bonus points have the best odds. Archery hunters can also hunt here with the Region 3 archery-only antelope permit.
current draw statistics at myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/drawingStatistics.

This property is in Montana’s Pacific Flyway waterfowl zone. Check current duck and goose season dates, daily bag limits, and shooting hours at fwp.mt.gov before your hunt.