Hunting District 215, East Deer Lodge: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 215 (East Deer Lodge) is 49.4% public land, most of it national forest (134,003 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 346 elk and 286 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,076 elk hunters spent 18,232 days here and took 284 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 215Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 370,345 acres (579 square miles) |
| Public land | 49.4% (182,941 acres) |
| Block Management | 6 areas, 21,781 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 346 (215 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 286 (161 mule deer, 126 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 | Walkerville, Elliston, Racetrack, Deer Lodge, Butte and Helena |
HD 215 is the country between Deer Lodge, Butte and MacDonald Pass. FWP's legal description bounds it with US 12, the Continental Divide, I-15 and I-90. Spotted Dog WMA, 37,690 acres, lies inside it.
How much public land is in HD 215?
49.4% of HD 215 is public land: 182,941 of its 370,345 acres. The largest share is national forest, 134,003 acres or 36.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 215 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 134,003 | 36.2% |
| FWP land | 27,880 | 7.5% |
| State trust land | 21,058 | 5.7% |
| Other public | 6,004 | 1.6% |
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 215
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas in HD 215, 21,781 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Upper Clark Fork River (13,660 acres, Type 1), Sager Lane (2,643 acres, Type 1), Burnt Hollow (2,167 acres, Type 1), Craddock Ranch (1,663 acres, Type 2) and Jake Creek (1,285 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 215: Spotted Dog WMA (37,690 acres here) and Warm Springs WMA (3,242 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 215?
FWP estimates 346 elk were harvested in HD 215 in 2025: 215 bulls, 129 cows and 2 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,076 hunters took 284 elk, about 14 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 | 346 | 215 | 129 | 2 | 61 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 284 | 151 | 134 | 0 | 51 | 2,076 | 18,232 | 14 |
| 2023 | 331 | 208 | 117 | 5 | 65 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 327 | 226 | 91 | 11 | 85 | 1,909 | 14,851 | 17 |
| 2021 | 298 | 153 | 145 | 0 | 20 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 363 | 226 | 129 | 9 | 83 | 2,288 | 17,770 | 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 215?
FWP estimates 286 deer were harvested in HD 215 in 2025: 161 mule deer and 126 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,406 deer hunters spent 10,882 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 286 | 161 | 126 | 233 | 50 | 139 | 1,406 | 10,882 |
| 2024 | 334 | 188 | 146 | 261 | 73 | 126 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 291 | 140 | 150 | 194 | 97 | 107 | 1,324 | 10,409 |
| 2022 | 277 | 150 | 127 | 200 | 77 | 106 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 265 | 86 | 179 | 135 | 130 | 83 | 1,080 | 8,083 |
| 2020 | 300 | 100 | 200 | 168 | 125 | 90 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 215 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 215:
| 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: 215-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 250 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk B License: 215-02 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 400 | Early: Aug 15-Oct 23 | Only valid on private lands and NOT VALID east of Brown’s Gulch Creek. | ||
| Elk B License: 215-02 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 400 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 8 | Only valid on private lands and DNRC lands outside the National Forest Boundary. NOT VALID on FWP WMAs or east of Brown’s Gulch Creek. |
When is deer season in HD 215 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 215 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: 215-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 75 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid outside the National Forest Boundary and Not valid on FWP WMAs. |
| Deer B License: 215-02 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | 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. One per hunter. |
| Deer B License: 215-02 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | Late: Nov 30-Jan 1 | Only valid on private lands outside the National Forest Boundary and NOT valid on FWP WMAs or BLM lands. One per hunter. |
FWP's notes for HD 215: HD 215 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Warm Springs WMA; Spotted Dog WMA closed Dec. 02-May 15
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 60, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 215 before you go.
How do you get to HD 215?
Highways through the district: I-90 (about 91 miles inside it), US 12 (about 19 miles inside it), I-15 (about 16 miles inside it) and I-115 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Walkerville, Elliston and Racetrack. Nearby: Deer Lodge (on the line), Butte (8 miles), Helena (14 miles) and Boulder (15 miles).
Which districts border HD 215?
HD 215 touches 9 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 213 | East Flint Range | 46.2% | 325 | 337 |
| HD 291 | East Garnet Range | 20.1% | 133 | 110 |
| HD 293 | South Lincoln-Nevada Creek | 56.1% | 231 | 242 |
| HD 318 | Butte-Basin | 81.5% | 210 | 99 |
| HD 319 | Fleecer-High Rye | 77.4% | 332 | 166 |
| HD 335 | Helena-South | 54.4% | 227 | 330 |
| HD 340 | Highlands | 48.3% | 397 | 604 |
| HD 343 | Helena-North | 52.8% | 165 | 241 |
| HD 350 | Whitetail-Bull Mountains | 82.5% | 93 | 183 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 215 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 215 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 60). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 215?
Walkerville, Elliston and Racetrack are inside the district. Just outside: Deer Lodge (on the line), Butte (8 miles) and Helena (14 miles).
Does HD 215 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas covering 21,781 acres in HD 215: 5 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Upper Clark Fork River at 13,660 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 215?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 215 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 215
Those portions of Deer Lodge, Silver Bow and Powell Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Garrison Junction, then in an easterly direction along US Highway 12 to the Continental Divide at MacDonald Pass, then in a southerly direction along said divide to Interstate 15, then in a southerly direction along said interstate to its junction with Interstate 90 at Butte, then west and north along said interstate to Garrison Junction, the point of beginning.
Get a Montana hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Montana are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Montana included.
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 60.
- 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.