Hunting District 170, Flathead River: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 170 (Flathead River) is 8% public land, most of it state trust land (12,437 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 67 elk and 1,772 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 588 elk hunters spent 4,550 days here and took 56 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 170Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 1, Northwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 231,608 acres (362 square miles) |
| Public land | 8% (18,424 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 166 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 67 (26 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,772 (22 mule deer, 1,750 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls and brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk (north of Lake Blaine Road and West of Hwy 35) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Kalispell, Bigfork, Evergreen, Columbia Falls and Whitefish |
HD 170 is the Flathead Valley floor around Kalispell, Bigfork and Columbia Falls, north of Flathead Lake. Only 8% of it is public land, yet FWP estimated 1,772 deer were taken here in 2025, almost all white-tailed deer (1,750). FWP's restricted-area descriptions cover the Flathead Weapons Restriction Area and the Blasdel waterfowl production areas.
How much public land is in HD 170?
8% of HD 170 is public land: 18,424 of its 231,608 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 12,437 acres or 5.4% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 170 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 12,437 | 5.4% |
| Other public | 5,651 | 2.4% |
| FWP land | 3,847 | 1.7% |
| National wildlife refuge | 1,312 | 0.6% |
| National forest | 828 | 0.4% |
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 170
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 170, 166 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Kohler Lake (166 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 170: Ray Kuhns WMA (1,126 acres here), Bad Rock Canyon WMA (773 acres here) and North Shore WMA (426 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 170?
FWP estimates 67 elk were harvested in HD 170 in 2025: 26 bulls, 41 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 588 hunters took 56 elk, about 10 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 | 67 | 26 | 41 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 56 | 23 | 33 | 0 | 6 | 588 | 4,550 | 10 |
| 2023 | 45 | 27 | 12 | 6 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 39 | 10 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 455 | 3,422 | 9 |
| 2021 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 52 | 24 | 28 | 0 | 14 | 324 | 2,747 | 16 |
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 170?
FWP estimates 1,772 deer were harvested in HD 170 in 2025: 22 mule deer and 1,750 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,713 deer hunters spent 19,536 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,772 | 22 | 1,750 | 812 | 957 | 565 | 2,713 | 19,536 |
| 2024 | 1,826 | 36 | 1,790 | 921 | 891 | 662 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,371 | 44 | 1,328 | 771 | 586 | 498 | 2,431 | 15,560 |
| 2022 | 1,511 | 40 | 1,471 | 799 | 710 | 510 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,476 | 48 | 1,428 | 824 | 648 | 553 | 2,244 | 14,012 |
| 2020 | 1,484 | 14 | 1,471 | 803 | 668 | 472 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 170 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 170:
| 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 | |||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid north of Lake Blaine Road and West of Hwy 35. | |||
| Elk B License: 170-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | One per hunter. Only valid on private land north of Lake Blaine Road and west of Hwy 35. Secure access before applying. |
When is deer season in HD 170 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 170 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (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 | 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 | |||
| Deer B License: 170-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Two per hunter. |
| Deer B License: 170-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Late: Nov 30-Dec 15 | ArchEquip only (outside of CWD Management Zone). Two per hunter. | ||
| Deer B License: 170-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | Only valid in Kalispell CWD Management Zone. Two per hunter. | ||
| Deer B License: 170-20 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | Only valid in Kalispell CWD Management Zone. One per hunter. Mandatory CWD sampling within 10 days of harvest. |
FWP's notes for HD 170: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Flathead Weapons Restriction Area and Blasdel WPAs. Bad Rock Canyon WMA closed Dec. 2-May 15. Kuhns WMA closed Dec. 2-April 1.
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 170 before you go.
How do you get to HD 170?
Highways through the district: US 93 (about 38 miles inside it), MT 35 (about 26 miles inside it), US 2 (about 22 miles inside it), MT 83 (about 16 miles inside it) and MT 206 (about 10 miles inside it). Towns inside: Kalispell, Bigfork, Evergreen, Helena Flats and Woods Bay. Nearby: Columbia Falls (on the line) and Whitefish (2 miles).
Which districts border HD 170?
HD 170 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 103 | South Salish | 51% | 154 | 1,715 |
| HD 110 | North Fork | 85.7% | 40 | 465 |
| HD 120 | Blacktail | 26.5% | 66 | 694 |
| HD 130 | Swan | 90% | 44 | 650 |
| HD 140 | Lower South Fork | 93% | 33 | 157 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 170 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls and brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk (north of Lake Blaine Road and West of Hwy 35) in HD 170 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 53). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 170?
Kalispell, Bigfork and Evergreen are inside the district. Just outside: Columbia Falls (on the line) and Whitefish (2 miles).
Does HD 170 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 170: Kohler Lake, 166 acres, a Type 2 area, where the landowner or FWP gives permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 170?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 170 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 170
That portion of Flathead County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning where State Route 35 bridge crosses the Swan River, near Bigfork, then southerly along the lakeshore of Flathead Lake to the confluence of Hunger Creek and then northeasterly along said creek to USFS boundary, then northerly along said boundary to T26N, R19W, Section 8, then west along USFS boundary and then southeasterly along said boundary to the lakeshore of Swan Lake. Cross the lake shore to the east to opposite shoreline, then follow shoreline southerly to USFS boundary south of the confluence of How Creek, then follow USFS boundary northerly to its northernmost intersection with Berne Road, then north along Berne Road to its junction with US Highway 2, then due north to the Flathead River, then westerly along said river to US Highway 2, then westerly along said highway to 12th Avenue West, Columbia Falls, then northerly to Tamarack Lane, then westerly to East Edgewood Drive and continue westerly to East 2nd Street, Whitefish, then south and westerly to US Highway 93, then west and northerly along said highway to Farm-to-Market Road, then southerly along said road to West Spring Creek Road across US Highway 2 on to Dern Road then east on Whalebone Drive to Foys Lake Road, then southerly onto Foys Canyon Road to Rocky Cliff Road, then easterly to US Highway 93, then southerly along said highway to the Somers Fishing Access Site and the north shore of Flathead Lake, then easterly along said shore to the Swan River, then easterly along the north shore of said river to State Route 35 Bridge, 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 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.