Hunting District 141, Lower Middle Fork: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 141 (Lower Middle Fork) is 98% public land, most of it national forest (212,288 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 15 elk and 25 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 97 elk hunters spent 664 days here and took 9 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 landNational park (no hunting)Other publicHD 141Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 216,894 acres (339 square miles) |
| Public land | 98% (212,640 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 15 (4 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 25 (7 mule deer, 18 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 | Snowslip, Pinnacle, Essex and Columbia Falls |
HD 141 lies along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and US 2 between Glacier National Park and the South Fork divide, from Ousel Creek east to Marias Pass. It is 97.9% national forest. FWP's restricted-area descriptions include the BNSF railway right-of-way from Marias Pass to the Java Creek bridge.
How much public land is in HD 141?
98% of HD 141 is public land: 212,640 of its 216,894 acres. The largest share is national forest, 212,288 acres or 97.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 141 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 212,288 | 97.9% |
| State trust land | 352 | 0.2% |
| National park (no hunting) | 80 | under 0.1% |
| Other public | 16 | 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. National park land is closed to hunting.
How many elk are harvested in HD 141?
FWP estimates 15 elk were harvested in HD 141 in 2025: 4 bulls, 11 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 97 hunters took 9 elk, about 9 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 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 97 | 664 | 9 |
| 2023 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 108 | 717 | 15 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 89 | 1,062 | 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 141?
FWP estimates 25 deer were harvested in HD 141 in 2025: 7 mule deer and 18 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 139 deer hunters spent 1,103 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 0 | 21 | 139 | 1,103 |
| 2024 | 22 | 3 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 9 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 74 | 390 |
| 2022 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 81 | 694 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 141 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 141:
| 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 141 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 141 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 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
FWP's notes for HD 141: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): BNSF right-of-way from Marias Pass to the Java Creek Bridge
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 53, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 141 before you go.
How do you get to HD 141?
Highways through the district: US 2 (about 33 miles inside it). Towns inside: Snowslip, Pinnacle and Essex. Nearby: Columbia Falls (14 miles).
Which districts border HD 141?
HD 141 touches 3 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 415 | Summit-North Fork Birch Creek | 97.7% | 18 | 34 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 141 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 141 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 53).
What is the closest town to HD 141?
Snowslip, Pinnacle and Essex are inside the district. Just outside: Columbia Falls (14 miles).
Does HD 141 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 141.
Where is FWP's map of HD 141?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 141 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 141
That portion of Flathead County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Glacier National Park Boundary and the Continental Divide (near Marias Pass), then southerly along said divide to USFS Trail 179 (east of Big Lodge Mtn.), then southerly and southwesterly along said trail to USFS Trail 154, then southwesterly along said trail to USFS Trail 155, then westerly along said trail to USFS Trail 81, then southerly along said trail to the South Fork Flathead River/ Middle Fork Flathead River Divide (near Whitcomb Peak), then northwesterly along said divide (Twin Mtn, Prospector Mtn, Great Northern Mtn) to USFS Trail 331, then northwesterly along said trail to US Highway 2, then westerly on said highway to Ousel Creek, then northerly along said creek to the Middle Fork Flathead River and the Glacier National Park Boundary, then southeasterly and northeasterly along said boundary to the Continental Divide, the point of beginning.
Request your free Montana hunt plan
The first 50 hunters in Montana get one hunt plan free. Request yours now. We will email you when your plan is ready.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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 53.
- 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.