Hunting District 121, West Clark Fork: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 121 (West Clark Fork) is 82.2% public land, most of it national forest (509,553 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 237 elk and 1,155 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,041 elk hunters spent 17,685 days here and took 246 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 121Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 627,169 acres (980 square miles) |
| Public land | 82.2% (515,717 acres) |
| Block Management | 6 areas, 7,016 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 237 (141 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,155 (176 mule deer, 979 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 | Thompson Falls, Heron, Trout Creek, Libby, Troy and Plains |
HD 121 runs along the lower Clark Fork River in Sanders County, from the Thompson River west to the Idaho line. Montana Highway 200 follows the river past Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Noxon and Heron. On the General Elk License, elk hunting here is for brow-tined bulls.
How much public land is in HD 121?
82.2% of HD 121 is public land: 515,717 of its 627,169 acres. The largest share is national forest, 509,553 acres or 81.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 121 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 509,553 | 81.2% |
| State trust land | 3,570 | 0.6% |
| FWP land | 2,594 | 0.4% |
| Other public | 917 | 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 121
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas in HD 121, 7,016 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Stimson Lumber (4,214 acres, Type 1), Naegeli Ranch (934 acres, Type 2), Gardner Ranch (755 acres, Type 1), Avista - South Fork Bull River (567 acres, Type 1) and Avista - Tuscor (402 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 121: Mount Silcox WMA (1,535 acres here) and Bull River WMA (1,034 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 121?
FWP estimates 237 elk were harvested in HD 121 in 2025: 141 bulls, 92 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,041 hunters took 246 elk, about 12 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 | 237 | 141 | 92 | 4 | 33 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 246 | 154 | 88 | 3 | 43 | 2,041 | 17,685 | 12 |
| 2023 | 226 | 145 | 76 | 5 | 35 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 171 | 144 | 27 | 0 | 41 | 1,964 | 16,562 | 9 |
| 2021 | 216 | 157 | 57 | 3 | 48 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 276 | 149 | 122 | 5 | 37 | 2,005 | 20,323 | 14 |
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 121?
FWP estimates 1,155 deer were harvested in HD 121 in 2025: 176 mule deer and 979 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,639 deer hunters spent 22,986 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,155 | 176 | 979 | 1,044 | 111 | 677 | 2,639 | 22,986 |
| 2024 | 1,106 | 169 | 937 | 1,004 | 101 | 676 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 938 | 131 | 808 | 807 | 121 | 451 | 2,551 | 21,482 |
| 2022 | 862 | 120 | 742 | 740 | 120 | 422 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 882 | 130 | 753 | 803 | 79 | 537 | 2,404 | 20,248 |
| 2020 | 843 | 72 | 771 | 729 | 115 | 488 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 121 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 121:
| 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: 121-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 150 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| Elk B License: 121-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 20 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid on private land. |
When is deer season in HD 121 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 121 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Oct 30), mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29) 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 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Oct 30 | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| 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: 121-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 150 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
FWP's notes for HD 121: Bull River WMA closed Dec 02-May 15; Mount Silcox WMA closed Dec 02-Apr 01.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 51, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 121 before you go.
How do you get to HD 121?
Highways through the district: MT 200 (about 51 miles inside it) and MT 56 (about 17 miles inside it). Towns inside: Thompson Falls, Heron, Trout Creek and Noxon. Nearby: Libby (12 miles), Troy (15 miles) and Plains (18 miles).
Which districts border HD 121?
HD 121 touches 3 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 104 | Cabinets | 77.2% | 91 | 533 |
| HD 122 | Thompson River | 53.8% | 135 | 794 |
| HD 123 | Clark Mountain | 91.1% | 34 | 213 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 121 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 121 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 51). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 121?
Thompson Falls, Heron and Trout Creek are inside the district. Just outside: Libby (12 miles), Troy (15 miles) and Plains (18 miles).
Does HD 121 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas covering 7,016 acres in HD 121: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Stimson Lumber at 4,214 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 121?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 121 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 121
That portion of Sanders County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning where the Sanders-Lincoln County line intersects the Idaho border, then south and southeasterly along said border to the Kootenai-Lolo National Forest boundary in Section 34, T22N, R32W, then easterly along said boundary through Emma Peak, Helwick Peak and Mosquito Peak, then easterly along said boundary on Sievers Ridge, then continuing easterly along said ridge leaving the Kootenai Lolo National Forest boundary, then continuing easterly along Sievers Ridge to its termination at the junction with the Mosquito Creek Road in Section 22, T22N, R30W, then easterly along said road to State Route 200, then easterly along Belknap Lane to railroad tracks, then southeasterly along said tracks to the south shore of the Clark Fork River, then southeasterly to the mouth of the Thompson River, then northeasterly up the Thompson River to USFS Trail 433, then northerly up said trail to Marmot Peak, then westerly along said trail to Mt. Headley and USFS Trail 528, then northerly up said trail to the Vermillion River Divide, then northerly along said divide to the Sanders-Lincoln County Line in Section 19, T25N, R28W, then westerly along said county line 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 51.
- 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.