Hunting District 201, Missoula - Ninemile - North Superior: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 201 (Missoula - Ninemile - North Superior) is 76.4% public land, most of it national forest (479,190 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 274 elk and 1,025 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,503 elk hunters spent 21,002 days here and took 327 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 landOther publicHD 201Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 668,845 acres (1,045 square miles) |
| Public land | 76.4% (511,067 acres) |
| Block Management | 6 areas, 6,061 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 274 (116 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,025 (185 mule deer, 841 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 | Alberton, Lolo, Frenchtown, Superior, Missoula and Plains |
HD 201 wraps around Missoula on the west and north: the Ninemile country, the Clark Fork below Missoula toward Superior, and Lolo. Interstate 90 runs about 75 miles inside it. Fish Creek WMA has 11,032 acres in the district.
How much public land is in HD 201?
76.4% of HD 201 is public land: 511,067 of its 668,845 acres. The largest share is national forest, 479,190 acres or 71.6% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 201 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 479,190 | 71.6% |
| State trust land | 20,295 | 3% |
| FWP land | 11,582 | 1.7% |
| Other public | 4,652 | 0.7% |
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 201
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas in HD 201, 6,061 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Mkh Montana (3,560 acres, Type 1), Stimson Lumber Company Lands (824 acres, Type 1), Sawmill Gulch (631 acres, Type 2), Loge Ranch (500 acres, Type 1) and The Nature Conservancy (385 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 201: Fish Creek WMA (11,032 acres here) and Mount Jumbo WMA (118 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 201?
FWP estimates 274 elk were harvested in HD 201 in 2025: 116 bulls, 158 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,503 hunters took 327 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 | 274 | 116 | 158 | 0 | 44 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 327 | 150 | 174 | 3 | 24 | 2,503 | 21,002 | 13 |
| 2023 | 287 | 207 | 77 | 3 | 68 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 245 | 153 | 92 | 0 | 45 | 2,276 | 17,321 | 11 |
| 2021 | 121 | 76 | 42 | 3 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 142 | 70 | 64 | 8 | 14 | 1,432 | 11,882 | 10 |
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 201?
FWP estimates 1,025 deer were harvested in HD 201 in 2025: 185 mule deer and 841 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 3,441 deer hunters spent 23,120 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,025 | 185 | 841 | 814 | 212 | 485 | 3,441 | 23,120 |
| 2024 | 1,284 | 205 | 1,079 | 1,098 | 178 | 619 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,175 | 211 | 964 | 999 | 172 | 608 | 3,619 | 25,408 |
| 2022 | 1,029 | 166 | 863 | 859 | 166 | 462 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 700 | 87 | 613 | 629 | 71 | 358 | 2,164 | 15,777 |
| 2020 | 621 | 60 | 561 | 522 | 99 | 302 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 201 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 201:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | 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 on private land excluding MKH Montana LLC lands. Only youth ages 12-15 and hunters with a PTHFV.Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. | |||
| Elk B License: 201-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 150 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk B License: 201-01 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Also valid in HD 260 with restrictions. See HD 260 for more info. One per hunter. Only valid on private land excluding MKH Montana LLC lands. Not valid in Mineral County. Must purchase before start of general rifle season. |
When is deer season in HD 201 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 201 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. | |||
| Deer B License: 201-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 150 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer B License: 260-01 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 19-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | ArchEquip only. Hunters may purchase up to three 260-01 antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses per hunter. Only valid east of HWY 93 in HD 201. Also valid in 204, 240, 260, 261, 262, and 270. |
FWP's notes for HD 201: Mount Jumbo WMA restricted to hunting with ArchEquip Only; closed Dec. 02 – May 1.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 54, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 201 before you go.
How do you get to HD 201?
Highways through the district: I-90 (about 75 miles inside it), US 12 (about 25 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 21 miles inside it), US 93 (about 13 miles inside it) and US 10 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Alberton, Lolo, Frenchtown, Bonner-West Riverside and East Missoula. Nearby: Superior (on the line), Missoula (2 miles), Plains (9 miles) and Stevensville (11 miles).
Which districts border HD 201?
HD 201 touches 9 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 124 | Arvilla | 65.6% | 33 | 212 |
| HD 200 | North St. Regis | 88.9% | 20 | 204 |
| HD 202 | South Superior | 94.4% | 79 | 701 |
| HD 204 | North Sapphire | 62.9% | 113 | 406 |
| HD 240 | West Bitterroot | 79.8% | 136 | 775 |
| HD 260 | Bitterroot - Clark Fork Archery District | 7.7% | 33 | 669 |
| HD 285 | Monture | 73.3% | 113 | 1,107 |
| HD 292 | West Garnet Range | 48.1% | 121 | 531 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 201 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 201 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 54). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 201?
Alberton, Lolo and Frenchtown are inside the district. Just outside: Superior (on the line), Missoula (2 miles) and Plains (9 miles).
Does HD 201 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas covering 6,061 acres in HD 201: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Mkh Montana at 3,560 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 201?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 201 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 201
Those portions of Mineral, Missoula and Sanders Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Flathead Indian Reservation Boundary near Evaro, then easterly and northeasterly along said boundary to the Rattlesnake Wilderness boundary near Gold Creek, then southerly along said boundary to the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area boundary, then following said boundary southerly past Sheep Mountain to the intersection with Wisherd Ridge, then following said ridge southeasterly to Lockwood Point, then following Tamarack Creek southeasterly to where it joins US Highway 200, then west along said highway to its junction with Interstate 90, then northwesterly along said interstate to the Clark Fork River, then easterly along the south side of said river to Deep Creek, then west up said creek to County Route 30 (Big Flat road), then southerly along said road to its junction with US Highway 93, then south along said highway to the junction with Carlton Lake Road, then west along said road to Old U.S. Highway 93, then briefly north along said highway to Carlton Creek, then west along said creek to Carlton Lake Trail No. 326, then northeasterly along said trail to the Lolo and Bitterroot National Forest Boundary, then southerly along said boundary to the Idaho border, then north and northeasterly along said border to the junction with the Elk Meadows Road (FS 451), then north along said road to the junction with the West Fork Butte Road (FS 37), then northerly along said road to the junction with Highway 12, then east along said road to the intersection with County Road 489 (Petty Creek -Grave Creek Road), then north along said road to the junction with the Clark Fork River, then downstream along the Clark Fork River to Cascade Campground, then south along USFS Trail 242 to Ninemile-Siegel Creek Divide (Sanders-Mineral County Line), then easterly along said divide crossing Siegel Pass to the Flathead Indian Reservation Boundary, then southeasterly along said reservation boundary and divide to Evaro, 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 54.
- 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.