Hunting District 213, East Flint Range: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 213 (East Flint Range) is 46.2% public land, most of it national forest (132,609 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 325 elk and 337 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,570 elk hunters spent 15,171 days here and took 369 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 landNational park (no hunting)Other publicHD 213Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 317,147 acres (496 square miles) |
| Public land | 46.2% (146,525 acres) |
| Block Management | 6 areas, 13,498 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 325 (137 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 337 (199 mule deer, 138 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 | Deer Lodge, Anaconda, Philipsburg and Drummond |
HD 213 is the east slope of the Flint Creek Range above Deer Lodge, between the crest and I-90, from Gold Creek to Georgetown Lake. Lost Creek WMA has 1,410 acres here. Hunting on the State Prison Ranch west of Deer Lodge is archery only, and FWP says hunters must call prison authorities for permission to go on it.
How much public land is in HD 213?
46.2% of HD 213 is public land: 146,525 of its 317,147 acres. The largest share is national forest, 132,609 acres or 41.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 213 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 132,609 | 41.8% |
| Other public | 37,703 | 11.9% |
| State trust land | 10,370 | 3.3% |
| FWP land | 2,420 | 0.8% |
| National park (no hunting) | 1,279 | 0.4% |
| BLM | 1,126 | 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. National park land is closed to hunting.
Block Management in HD 213
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas in HD 213, 13,498 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Ueland Ranch & Arco (8,693 acres, Type 2), Perkins Ranch (1,746 acres, Type 1), Anderson Ranch (1,713 acres, Type 1), Thomas Hereford Ranch (770 acres, Type 2) and Antelope Gulch (442 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 213: Lost Creek WMA (1,410 acres here), Warm Springs WMA (938 acres here), Stucky Ridge WMA (294 acres here) and Blue Eyed Nellie WMA (194 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 213?
FWP estimates 325 elk were harvested in HD 213 in 2025: 137 bulls, 184 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,570 hunters took 369 elk, about 24 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 | 325 | 137 | 184 | 4 | 50 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 369 | 182 | 185 | 2 | 49 | 1,570 | 15,171 | 24 |
| 2023 | 294 | 168 | 124 | 2 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 334 | 156 | 178 | 0 | 79 | 1,278 | 10,959 | 26 |
| 2021 | 349 | 172 | 170 | 7 | 42 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 284 | 161 | 116 | 6 | 65 | 1,401 | 11,188 | 20 |
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 213?
FWP estimates 337 deer were harvested in HD 213 in 2025: 199 mule deer and 138 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,178 deer hunters spent 9,366 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 337 | 199 | 138 | 219 | 118 | 113 | 1,178 | 9,366 |
| 2024 | 335 | 180 | 156 | 242 | 94 | 127 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 333 | 145 | 188 | 214 | 119 | 112 | 1,105 | 9,534 |
| 2022 | 305 | 129 | 176 | 191 | 114 | 108 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 300 | 104 | 197 | 139 | 161 | 61 | 872 | 7,684 |
| 2020 | 467 | 141 | 326 | 191 | 276 | 134 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 213 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 213:
| 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 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 1 | Only valid Prison Ranch ArchEquip only area. | |||
| 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: 213-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 375 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk B License: 213-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 350 | Early: Aug 15-Oct 23 | Only valid on private land. | ||
| Elk B License: 213-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 350 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 8 | Valid on the above described private lands AND ALSO VALID on DNRC lands outside the National Forest boundary. Not valid on FWP WMAs. Also valid on Montana State Prison Ranch in compliance with Prison Ranch access regulations. |
When is deer season in HD 213 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 213 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 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Late: Nov 30-Jan 1 | Only valid on Prison Ranch ArchEquip only area. | ||||
| Deer B License: 213-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 75 | 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. |
| Deer B License: 213-02 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid outside the National Forest Boundary and NOT valid on FWP WMAs or BLM lands. Up to two per hunter. |
| Deer B License: 213-02 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Late: Nov 30-Jan 1 | Valid on private lands and also valid on Prison Ranch ArchEquip only area. Up to two per hunter. | ||
| Deer B License: 213-20 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 23 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 1 | Up to two per hunter. Only valid on the Prison Ranch ArchEquip only area. Legal description and map available from FWP-R2 HQ 406-542-5500. |
FWP's notes for HD 213: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Grant Kohrs Ranch near Deer Lodge; Portion of the State Prison Ranch property west of Deer Lodge; Prison Ranch Archery Only. Area Legal description and map available from FWP-R2 406-542-5500, in Missoula. Hunters must contact Prison authorities between Aug 1-Dec 15 of the current license year at 406-415-6351 for permission to access the Prison Ranch.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 59, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 213 before you go.
How do you get to HD 213?
Highways through the district: I-90 (about 17 miles inside it), MT 1 (about 16 miles inside it), US 12 (about 15 miles inside it), MT 48 (about 7 miles inside it) and MT 275 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Deer Lodge. Nearby: Anaconda (4 miles), Philipsburg (6 miles), Drummond (12 miles) and Walkerville (13 miles).
Which districts border HD 213?
HD 213 touches 7 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 211 | Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake | 82.2% | 100 | 103 |
| HD 212 | West Flint Range | 77.5% | 38 | 126 |
| HD 214 | Mill Creek-Storm Lake | 54.1% | 25 | 73 |
| HD 215 | East Deer Lodge | 49.4% | 346 | 286 |
| HD 217 | Northwest Flint Range | 29.2% | 105 | 151 |
| HD 291 | East Garnet Range | 20.1% | 133 | 110 |
| HD 319 | Fleecer-High Rye | 77.4% | 332 | 166 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 213 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 213 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 59). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 213?
Deer Lodge is inside the district. Just outside: Anaconda (4 miles), Philipsburg (6 miles) and Drummond (12 miles).
Does HD 213 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas covering 13,498 acres in HD 213: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 3 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Ueland Ranch & Arco at 8,693 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 213?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 213 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 213
Those portions of Granite, Powell, and Deer Lodge Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of the Red Lion Road and State Route 1 at Georgetown Lake, then in a northeasterly direction along Red Lion Road and Trail until it intersects with the Flint Creek Mountain watershed divide just west of Racetrack Lake. Follow the divide until meeting the Eureka Ridge Road (FS 1500), then northeasterly on said road to FS Road 1544, then southeast on said road immediately to FS Road 636 (Gold Creek Lakes Road), then northeasterly on said road to Gold Creek Road, until it reaches interstate 90, then along said interstate in a southerly direction to its junction with State Route 1, then along said route in a westerly direction to its junction with Red Lion Road 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 59.
- 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.
Montana hunting Region 2 HD 211 HD 212 HD 214 HD 215 HD 217 HD 291 HD 319