Hunting District 123, Clark Mountain: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 123 (Clark Mountain) is 91.1% public land, most of it national forest (138,354 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 34 elk and 213 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 521 elk hunters spent 4,485 days here and took 40 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 landOther publicHD 123Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 152,606 acres (238 square miles) |
| Public land | 91.1% (139,040 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 2,272 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 34 (12 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 213 (53 mule deer, 161 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 | Belknap, Thompson Falls and Plains |
HD 123 is a small, steep district on the south side of the Clark Fork between Thompson Falls and the Idaho line, up to the Sanders-Mineral county line. National forest is 90.7% of it, and Belknap is the only town inside.
How much public land is in HD 123?
91.1% of HD 123 is public land: 139,040 of its 152,606 acres. The largest share is national forest, 138,354 acres or 90.7% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 123 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 138,354 | 90.7% |
| State trust land | 686 | 0.4% |
| Other public | 42 | under 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 123
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 123, 2,272 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Stimson Lumber (2,272 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 123?
FWP estimates 34 elk were harvested in HD 123 in 2025: 12 bulls, 22 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 521 hunters took 40 elk, about 8 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 | 34 | 12 | 22 | 0 | 5 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 40 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 521 | 4,485 | 8 |
| 2023 | 38 | 24 | 15 | 0 | 6 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 43 | 19 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 509 | 4,045 | 8 |
| 2021 | 44 | 19 | 25 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 56 | 31 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 520 | 4,473 | 11 |
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 123?
FWP estimates 213 deer were harvested in HD 123 in 2025: 53 mule deer and 161 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 702 deer hunters spent 5,564 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 213 | 53 | 161 | 199 | 15 | 145 | 702 | 5,564 |
| 2024 | 235 | 72 | 163 | 217 | 18 | 114 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 181 | 47 | 134 | 160 | 21 | 110 | 585 | 5,209 |
| 2022 | 122 | 26 | 96 | 105 | 18 | 62 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 125 | 19 | 107 | 110 | 15 | 71 | 603 | 3,638 |
| 2020 | 174 | 13 | 161 | 146 | 28 | 87 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 123 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 123:
| 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: 123-00 | 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 123 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 123 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 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15 and hunters with a PTHFV. | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Deer B License: 123-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
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 123 before you go.
How do you get to HD 123?
Highways through the district: MT 200 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Belknap. Nearby: Thompson Falls (on the line) and Plains (12 miles).
Which districts border HD 123?
HD 123 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 121 | West Clark Fork | 82.2% | 237 | 1,155 |
| HD 122 | Thompson River | 53.8% | 135 | 794 |
| HD 124 | Arvilla | 65.6% | 33 | 212 |
| HD 200 | North St. Regis | 88.9% | 20 | 204 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 123 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 123 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 51). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 123?
Belknap is inside the district. Just outside: Thompson Falls (on the line) and Plains (12 miles).
Does HD 123 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 123: Stimson Lumber, 2,272 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 123?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 123 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 123
That portion of Sanders County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning where State Route 200 meets the Mosquito Creek Road, then westerly along said road for 1.38 miles to the intersection of Sievers Ridge in Section 22, T22N, R30W, then westerly up said ridge to the Kootenai-Lolo National forest Boundary, then westerly along said boundary to Mosquito Peak, then westerly from said peak through the Helwick, Emma, Beaver Peak divide to the Montana-Idaho border in Section 34, T22N, R23W, then southerly along said border to the Sanders-Mineral County line, then easterly along said line to Greenwood Hill and the junction of USFS Trail 398, then northerly on said trail to Penrose Peak, then northerly from said peak along the Penrose-Cherry Peak divide to the junction of USFS Trail 1130, then northerly along said trail to Eddy Mountain, then northerly from said mountain along the Outlaw Lake Trail to Outlaw Creek, then northerly down said creek to the Clark Fork River, then westerly along the southern shore of said river to the railroad tracks in Section 23, T22N, R30W then northwesterly said railroad tracks to Belknap Lane, then westerly to State Route 200, then southerly along said route to the Mosquito Creek Road, 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.