Montana elk and deer hunting: districts, seasons and public land
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks runs deer and elk hunting in 7 regions and 139 hunting districts. FWP estimates hunters took 27,176 elk in 2025 and 77,130 deer. The 2026 general season for deer and elk runs October 24 to November 29 (FWP 2026 regulations, page 11).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and deadlines: FWP's 2026 regulations. Harvest: FWP estimates to 2025. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
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When are Montana's 2026 deer and elk seasons?
Montana's deer and elk seasons are the same across most of the state. The archery-only season opens first, on September 5 in 2026. The general season, when rifles are allowed, runs October 24 to November 29. A few backcountry districts open their general season in mid-September.
| Season, 2026 | Dates |
|---|---|
| Deer and elk, archery only | September 5 to October 18 |
| Deer, youth two-day hunt | October 15 to 16 |
| Deer and elk, general | October 24 to November 29 |
| Backcountry HDs 150, 280 and 316, archery only | September 5 to 14 (HD 316 has no archery-only season) |
| Backcountry HDs 150, 280 and 316, general | September 15 to November 29 |
| Pronghorn, archery only | September 5 to October 9 |
| Pronghorn, general | October 10 to November 8 |
| Pronghorn, 900 series | August 15 to November 8 |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 11. These are the statewide dates; each district's page lists its own.
When are Montana's application deadlines?
Most Montana deer and elk hunting is on a general license, but anything drawn has a spring deadline. Deer and elk permits and the nonresident combination licenses close first, on April 1. Moose, sheep, goat and bison close May 1. Antlerless B licenses and pronghorn close June 1.
| License or permit | Apply by, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deer and elk permits | April 1 |
| Nonresident Big Game, Elk and Deer Combination Licenses (drawing) | April 1 |
| Moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison | May 1 (FWP's application and drawing dates page) |
| Deer B and Elk B licenses (drawing) | June 1 |
| Pronghorn and pronghorn B licenses | June 1 |
| Over-the-counter deer and elk B licenses go on sale | June 15 |
| SuperTag chances | June 30 |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 11; moose, sheep, goat and bison: FWP application and drawing dates. FWP has not printed its 2027 deadlines yet. This page will show them once FWP publishes its 2027 regulations.
How do Montana's deer and elk licenses work?
A Montana resident buys a General Deer License ($16) and a General Elk License ($20) over the counter, after a Conservation License and a Base Hunting License (FWP 2026 regulations, page 12). The general license is good in every district, for whatever that district's table allows: in many districts that is a brow-tined bull, in some a spike, in some either sex.
A permit is drawn. It is used together with the general license and lets the holder take something the general license does not, in one district: often a mature bull or buck. Permit applications close April 1. A B license is for antlerless deer or elk only; some are drawn (apply by June 1) and some are sold over the counter from June 15.
Nonresidents get their general licenses through a drawing: the Big Game Combination ($1,312), the Elk Combination ($1,112) or the Deer Combination ($760), applied for by April 1 (page 13). By state law nonresidents can get at most 10 percent of a permit or license quota, and are not promised any of it.
Bonus points add chances in a first-choice drawing. FWP squares them before the drawing: three points give ten chances in all, nine plus the application itself (page 17).
Montana's hunting regions
| Region | Area (office) | Districts | Public land | Elk harvested, 2025 | Deer harvested, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Northwest Montana (Kalispell) | 15 | 75.7% | 1,298 | 10,816 |
| Region 2 | West-central Montana (Missoula) | 28 | 68% | 3,598 | 9,217 |
| Region 3 | Southwest Montana (Bozeman) | 36 | 55.6% | 10,476 | 14,590 |
| Region 4 | North-central Montana (Great Falls) | 34 | 24.9% | 5,803 | 15,574 |
| Region 5 | South-central Montana (Billings) | 10 | 23.1% | 3,444 | 8,097 |
| Region 6 | Northeast Montana (Glasgow) | 10 | 30.7% | 775 | 8,212 |
| Region 7 | Southeast Montana (Miles City) | 6 | 23.5% | 1,782 | 10,624 |
Harvest: FWP Harvest Estimates (elk and deer, 2020 to 2025), region totals. Public land measured by FilledTag from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
District pages so far: HD 121 West Clark Fork, HD 201 Missoula - Ninemile - North Superior, HD 215 East Deer Lodge, HD 270 East Fork Bitterroot, HD 314 Upper Yellowstone West, HD 320 Tobacco Root Mountains, HD 323 Gravelly-Centennial, HD 324 Blacktail Mountains, HD 331 Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole, HD 360 Madison Range, HD 380 Radersburg, HD 393 East Bridger, HD 413 Northwest Little Belt Mountains, HD 416 Southwest Little Belt Mountains, HD 525 Beartooth-Absaroka, HD 590 Bull Mountains-Pine Ridge, HD 704 Powder Pine Hills.
How much of Montana's hunting ground is public?
Inside Montana's deer and elk hunting districts, 37.7% of the ground is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: national forest 20.2%, BLM 9.6%, state trust land 6.1%, national wildlife refuge 1.1%, FWP land 0.5% and bureau of Reclamation 0.2%.
National forest and BLM land is open to hunting under its own rules. State trust land is open to hunting with the Conservation License, but only where it can be reached lawfully (page 26); many sections are surrounded by private land with no public road in. National parks are closed to hunting, and national wildlife refuges only where a refuge opens them.
Private land needs permission, posted or not: Montana law requires the landowner's, lessee's or agent's permission before hunting on private property (page 24).
What is Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 947 areas and about 6.8 million acres statewide.
Block Management is FWP's program for hunting on private land. FWP signs a contract with the landowner: the landowner allows free public hunting under set rules, and FWP helps enforce those rules (page 30). FWP lists the year's areas in its Hunting Access Guide, published by August 15.
There are two kinds of area. On a Type 1 area hunters give themselves permission, usually at a sign-in box. On a Type 2 area the landowner or FWP gives the permission. Each area has its own map and rules from FWP.
Wildlife management areas with their own page
Beartooth WMA, Sun River WMA, Mount Haggin WMA, Fish Creek WMA, Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA, Judith River WMA, Big Snowy Mountains WMA, Threemile WMA. Every region's page lists all of its WMAs.
Questions hunters ask
When does Montana's 2026 general elk season open?
October 24, 2026. It runs to November 29 in most districts. Archery only is September 5 to October 18 (FWP 2026 regulations, page 11).
Can a nonresident hunt elk in Montana without drawing?
No. Nonresidents get the general elk license through a drawing: the Big Game Combination or Elk Combination License, applied for by April 1. Once drawn, the license works in any district for what that district allows.
Is state land open to hunting in Montana?
State trust land is open with a Conservation License where it can be reached lawfully. Many sections can only be reached across private land, and crossing private land needs permission.
What is a Type 1 and Type 2 Block Management area?
On a Type 1 area hunters give themselves permission, usually at a sign-in box. On a Type 2 area the landowner or FWP gives permission. Both are free.
How many hunting districts does Montana have for deer and elk?
FWP's 2026 map has 139 deer and elk hunting districts in 7 regions. Pronghorn, moose, sheep, goat and bear use their own districts.
Get a Montana hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Montana are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Montana included.
Where these numbers come from
- Seasons, licenses and deadlines: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 11 and pages 12 to 13.
- Harvest: FWP Harvest Estimates (elk and deer, 2020 to 2025).
- Public land: Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026. Block Management: FWP Block Management area boundaries (2026).
- Districts: FWP deer, elk and lion hunting districts.
FilledTag is not part of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. FWP's hunting pages are the final word on every rule.