Flathead Indian Reservation - Geography and Ecology

Geography and Ecology

All but the northern tip of Flathead Lake is part of the reservation. Flathead Lake lies in the northeast corner of the reservation, with most of the reservation to the south and west of the lake. Part of the Mission Mountains range is on the reservation. The western end of the range is protected by the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness and the eastern end of the range is protected by the Mission Mountains Wilderness. Parts of the Bob Marshall Wilderness are nearby.

Recent years have seen a decline in the numbers of native fish species, which includes: bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, northern whitefish, and northern pikeminnow. Non-native species includes: yellowstone cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, black bullhead, kokanee salmon, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.

Hunting furbearing animals is prohibited. Hunting of these birds is permitted: Hungarian Partridge, pheasants, ducks, geese, mergansers, and coots. Other animals that can be hunted are: elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, grizzly bear, and moose. Wolf, bison, swans, and falcons are also present.