Hunting District 100, North Kootenai: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 100 (North Kootenai) is 88.9% public land, most of it national forest (798,022 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 103 elk and 1,140 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,536 elk hunters spent 13,309 days here and took 84 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestState trust landFWP landOther publicHD 100Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 900,622 acres (1,407 square miles) |
| Public land | 88.9% (800,984 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 29,524 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 103 (66 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,140 (119 mule deer, 1,021 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Yaak, West Kootenai, Sylvanite, Rexford, Troy and Libby |
HD 100 is Montana's northwest corner: the Yaak country between the Idaho line, the Canadian border and Lake Koocanusa, south to the Kootenai River below Libby Dam. National forest is 88.6% of it. White-tailed deer make up most of the deer harvest: FWP estimated 1,021 of the 1,140 deer taken in 2025 were whitetails.
How much public land is in HD 100?
88.9% of HD 100 is public land: 800,984 of its 900,622 acres. The largest share is national forest, 798,022 acres or 88.6% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 100 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 798,022 | 88.6% |
| State trust land | 1,869 | 0.2% |
| FWP land | 1,093 | 0.1% |
| Other public | 809 | 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026. State trust land is open to hunting with a Conservation License where it can be reached legally; many sections touch no public road.
Block Management in HD 100
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 100, 29,524 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Stimson Lumber (29,524 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 100: Kootenai West WMA (921 acres here) and Kootenai Falls WMA (172 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 100?
FWP estimates 103 elk were harvested in HD 100 in 2025: 66 bulls, 35 cows and 3 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,536 hunters took 84 elk, about 5 elk for every 100 hunters.
| Year | Elk harvested | Bulls | Cows | Calves | Bulls 6 points or more | Elk hunters | Hunter days | Elk per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 103 | 66 | 35 | 3 | 26 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 84 | 51 | 33 | 0 | 21 | 1,536 | 13,309 | 5 |
| 2023 | 106 | 83 | 23 | 0 | 21 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 112 | 101 | 11 | 0 | 28 | 1,540 | 13,075 | 7 |
| 2021 | 74 | 59 | 15 | 0 | 19 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 65 | 49 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 1,469 | 15,073 | 4 |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (elk, 2020 to 2025). FWP counts hunters and days by district every other year; "not counted" means FWP did not publish that year's count. Elk per 100 hunters is worked out from FWP's own two figures.
How many deer are harvested in HD 100?
FWP estimates 1,140 deer were harvested in HD 100 in 2025: 119 mule deer and 1,021 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,765 deer hunters spent 22,537 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,140 | 119 | 1,021 | 866 | 266 | 476 | 2,765 | 22,537 |
| 2024 | 1,147 | 113 | 1,034 | 890 | 251 | 575 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,204 | 169 | 1,035 | 942 | 258 | 543 | 2,846 | 23,556 |
| 2022 | 1,303 | 176 | 1,127 | 912 | 388 | 483 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,437 | 165 | 1,272 | 1,053 | 379 | 655 | 2,402 | 17,422 |
| 2020 | 1,214 | 137 | 1,076 | 843 | 365 | 500 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 100 in 2026?
Archery only: September 5 to October 18. General season: October 24 to November 29, 2026. Every elk license and permit FWP lists for HD 100:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| Elk B License: 100-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
When is deer season in HD 100 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 100 allows mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29), white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Oct 30) and white-tailed deer bucks (Oct 31-Nov 29).
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Oct 30 | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15 and hunters with a PTHFV. | |||
| Deer B License: 100-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer B License: 199-20 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 2,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid in the Libby CWD Management Zone. 1 per hunter. Mandatory CWD sampling within 10 days of harvest. More information on CWD sample submission on page 4. |
FWP's notes for HD 100: West Kootenai WMA closed Dec 02-May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 48, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 100 before you go.
How do you get to HD 100?
Highways through the district: MT 37 (about 13 miles inside it) and US 2 (about 12 miles inside it). Towns inside: Yaak, West Kootenai and Sylvanite. Nearby: Rexford (on the line), Troy (on the line), Libby (on the line) and Eureka (4 miles).
Which districts border HD 100?
HD 100 touches 3 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 101 | Eureka | 78.9% | 195 | 1,158 |
| HD 103 | South Salish | 51% | 154 | 1,715 |
| HD 104 | Cabinets | 77.2% | 91 | 533 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 100 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 100 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 48). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 100?
Yaak, West Kootenai and Sylvanite are inside the district. Just outside: Rexford (on the line), Troy (on the line) and Libby (on the line).
Does HD 100 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 100: Stimson Lumber, 29,524 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 100?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 100 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 100
That portion of Lincoln County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning where the Kootenai River meets the Idaho border, then northerly along said border to the Canadian border, then easterly along said border to the east shore of Lake Koocanusa (Kootenai River), then southerly along said shore to Libby Dam and the east shore of the Kootenai River, then southerly and westerly along said shore of the Kootenai River to the Idaho border, the point of beginning.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters and days: FWP Harvest Estimates (elk and deer, 2020 to 2025).
- Seasons, licenses, quotas and restrictions: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 48.
- Public land: Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026. Block Management: FWP Block Management area boundaries (2026). District boundary: FWP deer, elk and lion hunting districts.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Numbers are copied from FWP and the State of Montana, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.