Hunting District 130, Swan: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 130 (Swan) is 90% public land, most of it national forest (325,871 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 44 elk and 650 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 893 elk hunters spent 6,425 days here and took 33 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 130Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 430,174 acres (672 square miles) |
| Public land | 90% (386,995 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 44 (33 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 650 (45 mule deer, 605 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 | Condon, Swan Lake, Bear Dance, Ronan, Polson and St. Ignatius |
HD 130 is the Swan Valley between the Swan and Mission ranges, from Swan Lake south past Condon toward the Clearwater divide. MT 83 runs about 40 miles inside it. FWP limits the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge to archery equipment.
How much public land is in HD 130?
90% of HD 130 is public land: 386,995 of its 430,174 acres. The largest share is national forest, 325,871 acres or 75.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 130 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 325,871 | 75.8% |
| State trust land | 56,433 | 13.1% |
| FWP land | 2,391 | 0.6% |
| National wildlife refuge | 2,300 | 0.5% |
| Other public | 43 | 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.
Wildlife management area in HD 130: North Swan Valley WMA (1,886 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 130?
FWP estimates 44 elk were harvested in HD 130 in 2025: 33 bulls, 11 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 893 hunters took 33 elk, about 4 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 | 44 | 33 | 11 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 893 | 6,425 | 4 |
| 2023 | 48 | 39 | 9 | 0 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 39 | 29 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 887 | 6,760 | 4 |
| 2021 | 40 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 1,067 | 8,273 | 2 |
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 130?
FWP estimates 650 deer were harvested in HD 130 in 2025: 45 mule deer and 605 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,069 deer hunters spent 12,295 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 650 | 45 | 605 | 591 | 59 | 382 | 2,069 | 12,295 |
| 2024 | 600 | 32 | 568 | 583 | 17 | 431 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 554 | 20 | 534 | 481 | 69 | 311 | 1,785 | 11,029 |
| 2022 | 555 | 33 | 522 | 423 | 129 | 256 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 564 | 14 | 550 | 517 | 47 | 291 | 1,820 | 11,720 |
| 2020 | 591 | 33 | 557 | 526 | 65 | 346 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 130 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 130:
| 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 |
When is deer season in HD 130 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 130 allows white-tailed deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-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 | |||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| 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. | |||
| Deer B License: 130-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer Permit: 130-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 10 | Sep 5-Sep 14 | Sep 15-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. Only valid in Mission Mtns Wilderness portion of Flathead National Forest. |
FWP's notes for HD 130: Swan River National Wildlife Refuge restricted to ArchEquip only.
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 130 before you go.
How do you get to HD 130?
Highways through the district: MT 83 (about 40 miles inside it) and MT 35 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Condon, Swan Lake and Bear Dance. Nearby: Ronan (8 miles), Polson (8 miles), St. Ignatius (9 miles) and Kalispell (18 miles).
Which districts border HD 130?
HD 130 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 140 | Lower South Fork | 93% | 33 | 157 |
| HD 150 | Upper South Fork | 100% | 47 | 44 |
| HD 170 | Flathead River | 8% | 67 | 1,772 |
| HD 285 | Monture | 73.3% | 113 | 1,107 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 130 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 130 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 52).
What is the closest town to HD 130?
Condon, Swan Lake and Bear Dance are inside the district. Just outside: Ronan (8 miles), Polson (8 miles) and St. Ignatius (9 miles).
Does HD 130 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 130.
Where is FWP's map of HD 130?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 130 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 130
Those portions of Lake and Missoula Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Swan Lake and the confluence of Groom Creek, then northeasterly along said creek to USFS Trail 61, then northerly along said trail to the Swan Divide, then southerly along said divide to Wolverine Peak and the Clearwater River/ Swan River Divide, then southwesterly along said divide (Flathead NF/Lolo NF boundary) to the Flathead Indian Reservation Boundary, then westerly and northerly along said boundary to the head of Lime Creek in T25N, R18W, Section 31, then west along the USFS Boundary to the lake shore of Flathead Lake, then northerly to confluence of Hunger Creek, then follow said creek northeasterly to USFS Boundary, then northerly along said boundary to T26N, R19W, Section 8, then westerly along USFS Boundary and then southeasterly along said boundary to Lake Shore of Swan Lake, then cross the lake to the east to opposite shoreline, then follow lakeshore to the confluence of Groom Creek, 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 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.