Hunting District 124, Arvilla: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 124 (Arvilla) is 65.6% public land, most of it national forest (50,663 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 33 elk and 212 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 326 elk hunters spent 2,582 days here and took 41 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 124Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 82,508 acres (129 square miles) |
| Public land | 65.6% (54,097 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 33 (22 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 212 (75 mule deer, 137 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 | Plains, Thompson Falls and Superior |
HD 124 is one of Montana's smallest deer and elk districts, 129 square miles south of the Clark Fork near Plains. No town or numbered highway lies inside it; national forest is 61.4%.
How much public land is in HD 124?
65.6% of HD 124 is public land: 54,097 of its 82,508 acres. The largest share is national forest, 50,663 acres or 61.4% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 124 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 50,663 | 61.4% |
| State trust land | 3,434 | 4.2% |
| Other public | 153 | 0.2% |
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.
How many elk are harvested in HD 124?
FWP estimates 33 elk were harvested in HD 124 in 2025: 22 bulls, 11 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 326 hunters took 41 elk, about 13 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 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 41 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 326 | 2,582 | 13 |
| 2023 | 35 | 23 | 12 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 31 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 268 | 1,780 | 12 |
| 2021 | 26 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 235 | 1,616 | 6 |
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 124?
FWP estimates 212 deer were harvested in HD 124 in 2025: 75 mule deer and 137 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 441 deer hunters spent 3,426 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 212 | 75 | 137 | 182 | 26 | 92 | 441 | 3,426 |
| 2024 | 176 | 53 | 123 | 151 | 24 | 90 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 178 | 65 | 114 | 153 | 25 | 104 | 446 | 3,681 |
| 2022 | 158 | 71 | 87 | 131 | 27 | 66 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 126 | 27 | 99 | 114 | 12 | 56 | 425 | 3,216 |
| 2020 | 163 | 44 | 119 | 142 | 19 | 80 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 124 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 124:
| 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: 124-00 | 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 124 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 124 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: 124-00 | 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 52, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 124 before you go.
How do you get to HD 124?
No numbered highway crosses the district. Nearby: Plains (on the line), Thompson Falls (8 miles), Superior (8 miles) and Hot Springs (14 miles).
Which districts border HD 124?
HD 124 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 122 | Thompson River | 53.8% | 135 | 794 |
| HD 123 | Clark Mountain | 91.1% | 34 | 213 |
| HD 200 | North St. Regis | 88.9% | 20 | 204 |
| HD 201 | Missoula - Ninemile - North Superior | 76.4% | 274 | 1,025 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 124 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 124 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 52). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 124?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Plains (on the line), Thompson Falls (8 miles) and Superior (8 miles).
Does HD 124 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 124.
Where is FWP's map of HD 124?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 124 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
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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 52.
- 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.