Hunting District 212, West Flint Range: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 212 (West Flint Range) is 77.5% public land, most of it national forest (60,869 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 38 elk and 126 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 449 elk hunters spent 3,573 days here and took 26 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestBLMState trust landFWP landOther publicHD 212Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 85,155 acres (133 square miles) |
| Public land | 77.5% (66,023 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 1,308 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 38 (26 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 126 (79 mule deer, 47 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 | Philipsburg, Anaconda, Drummond and Deer Lodge |
HD 212 is the west slope of the Flint Creek Range above Philipsburg, between Maxville and Georgetown Lake, with MT 1 along its west side. At 133 square miles it is one of the smaller districts in Region 2. Mule deer outnumbered white-tailed deer in FWP's 2025 deer estimate, 79 to 47.
How much public land is in HD 212?
77.5% of HD 212 is public land: 66,023 of its 85,155 acres. The largest share is national forest, 60,869 acres or 71.5% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 212 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 60,869 | 71.5% |
| BLM | 4,477 | 5.3% |
| State trust land | 676 | 0.8% |
| Other public | 645 | 0.8% |
| FWP land | 1 | 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.
Block Management in HD 212
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 212, 1,308 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Johnson Tuning Fork Ranch (1,308 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 212?
FWP estimates 38 elk were harvested in HD 212 in 2025: 26 bulls, 12 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 449 hunters took 26 elk, about 6 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 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 9 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 26 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 449 | 3,573 | 6 |
| 2023 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 11 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 54 | 45 | 9 | 0 | 16 | 455 | 3,233 | 12 |
| 2021 | 30 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 11 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 76 | 66 | 10 | 0 | 26 | 814 | 5,125 | 9 |
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 212?
FWP estimates 126 deer were harvested in HD 212 in 2025: 79 mule deer and 47 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 481 deer hunters spent 3,559 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 126 | 79 | 47 | 96 | 31 | 46 | 481 | 3,559 |
| 2024 | 111 | 62 | 50 | 93 | 18 | 41 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 68 | 43 | 26 | 53 | 15 | 26 | 311 | 1,821 |
| 2022 | 76 | 49 | 28 | 52 | 24 | 26 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 80 | 38 | 42 | 65 | 15 | 41 | 341 | 2,413 |
| 2020 | 135 | 55 | 81 | 88 | 48 | 54 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 212 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 212:
| 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 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: 210-03 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Early: Aug 15-Oct 23 Late: Nov 30-Jan 8 | Valid on private lands in HDs 211, 212, 216 and south portion of 210 (Rattling Gulch-Henderson Creek). | ||
| Elk B License: 210-03 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid on the above described private lands AND ALSO VALID on DNRC lands outside the National Forest Service boundary. | |
| Elk B License: 212-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 30 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 212 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 212 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 15).
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Deer License | Antlerless Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid outside National Forest boundary and NOT valid on FWP WMAs or BLM lands. Only youth ages 10-15. | ||
| 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 15 | ||||
| Deer B License: 212-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 40 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| Deer B License: 212-02 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 1 | Valid outside the National Forest Boundary and NOT valid on FWP WMAs or BLM lands. One per hunter. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 58, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 212 before you go.
How do you get to HD 212?
Highways through the district: MT 1 (about 15 miles inside it). Towns inside: Philipsburg. Nearby: Anaconda (9 miles), Drummond (15 miles) and Deer Lodge (16 miles).
Which districts border HD 212?
HD 212 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 210 | John Long Range | 43.3% | 172 | 295 |
| HD 211 | Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake | 82.2% | 100 | 103 |
| HD 213 | East Flint Range | 46.2% | 325 | 337 |
| HD 217 | Northwest Flint Range | 29.2% | 105 | 151 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 212 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 212 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 58). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 212?
Philipsburg is inside the district. Just outside: Anaconda (9 miles), Drummond (15 miles) and Deer Lodge (16 miles).
Does HD 212 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 212: Johnson Tuning Fork Ranch, 1,308 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 212?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 212 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 212
Those portions of Granite County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of State Route 1 and FS Road 676 (Maxville Road, becomes Princeton Road) at Maxville, then southeasterly on said road to FS Road 1544, then southeast on said road until it intersects with the Flint Creek Mountain watershed divide at Eureka Ridge Road (FS 1500), then follow the divide south and east until it intersects with the Red Lion Road and Trail just west of Racetrack Lake, then southwesterly down said road to its junction with State Route 1 at Georgetown Lake, then northerly along said route to FS Road 676 at Maxville, 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 58.
- 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.