Hunting District 216, West Rock Creek-Quigg Peak: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 216 (West Rock Creek-Quigg Peak) is 89.8% public land, most of it national forest (159,857 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 44 elk and 141 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 463 elk hunters spent 3,455 days here and took 50 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 landHD 216Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 189,603 acres (296 square miles) |
| Public land | 89.8% (170,334 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 1,556 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 44 (15 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 141 (90 mule deer, 52 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, Stevensville and Hamilton |
HD 216 is the west side of Rock Creek, from the Bitterroot-Rock Creek divide east to the Rock Creek road, between Skalkaho Pass and the Eagle Creek crossing. No town or numbered highway lies inside it; national forest is 84.3%.
How much public land is in HD 216?
89.8% of HD 216 is public land: 170,334 of its 189,603 acres. The largest share is national forest, 159,857 acres or 84.3% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 216 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 159,857 | 84.3% |
| BLM | 8,463 | 4.5% |
| State trust land | 2,014 | 1.1% |
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 216
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 216, 1,556 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Black Pine Ridge (1,556 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 216?
FWP estimates 44 elk were harvested in HD 216 in 2025: 15 bulls, 29 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 463 hunters took 50 elk, about 11 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 | 44 | 15 | 29 | 0 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 50 | 24 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 463 | 3,455 | 11 |
| 2023 | 39 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 58 | 35 | 23 | 0 | 22 | 500 | 3,345 | 12 |
| 2021 | 49 | 28 | 20 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 71 | 42 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 490 | 3,248 | 14 |
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 216?
FWP estimates 141 deer were harvested in HD 216 in 2025: 90 mule deer and 52 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 500 deer hunters spent 3,705 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 141 | 90 | 52 | 111 | 31 | 63 | 500 | 3,705 |
| 2024 | 180 | 75 | 105 | 142 | 36 | 79 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 195 | 72 | 123 | 142 | 51 | 59 | 476 | 2,669 |
| 2022 | 172 | 74 | 98 | 135 | 36 | 69 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 123 | 55 | 68 | 99 | 24 | 55 | 415 | 2,786 |
| 2020 | 166 | 73 | 94 | 125 | 41 | 66 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 216 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 216:
| 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: 216-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 75 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 216 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 216 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: 216-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer B License: 216-01 | 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. NOT valid on BLM lands. One per hunter. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 61, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 216 before you go.
How do you get to HD 216?
No numbered highway crosses the district. Nearby: Philipsburg (10 miles), Stevensville (15 miles), Hamilton (18 miles) and Pinesdale (20 miles).
Which districts border HD 216?
HD 216 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 204 | North Sapphire | 62.9% | 113 | 406 |
| HD 210 | John Long Range | 43.3% | 172 | 295 |
| HD 211 | Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake | 82.2% | 100 | 103 |
| HD 261 | East Bitterroot | 62.2% | 57 | 183 |
| HD 270 | East Fork Bitterroot | 84.6% | 621 | 395 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 216 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 216 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 61). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 216?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Philipsburg (10 miles), Stevensville (15 miles) and Hamilton (18 miles).
Does HD 216 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 216: Black Pine Ridge, 1,556 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 216?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 216 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 216
Those portions of Granite and Missoula Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Skalkaho Pass, then northerly along the Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide to USFS Trail 215, then easterly along said trail to the Rock Creek Road at Eagle Creek-Cable Crossing, then north along said road to the Slide Rock-Upper Willow Creek Road at Brewster Creek, then southeasterly along said road to its junction with the Rock Creek-Philipsburg Road, then westerly along said road to the main Rock Creek Road, then south along said road to its junction with State Route 38, then westerly along said route to Skalkaho Pass, 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 61.
- 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.