Hunting District 217, Northwest Flint Range: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 217 (Northwest Flint Range) is 29.2% public land, most of it national forest (25,460 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 105 elk and 151 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 544 elk hunters spent 4,378 days here and took 92 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 landOther publicHD 217Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 91,173 acres (142 square miles) |
| Public land | 29.2% (26,641 acres) |
| Block Management | 2 areas, 13,488 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 105 (66 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 151 (52 mule deer, 98 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk (archery equipment only) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Drummond, Goldcreek, Philipsburg and Deer Lodge |
HD 217 is the northwest end of the Flint Creek Range between Drummond, Maxville and Gold Creek, inside I-90 and MT 1. A brow-tined bull here takes FWP permit 217-10. Public land is 29.2%, and two Block Management areas add 13,488 acres.
How much public land is in HD 217?
29.2% of HD 217 is public land: 26,641 of its 91,173 acres. The largest share is national forest, 25,460 acres or 27.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 217 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 25,460 | 27.9% |
| State trust land | 1,132 | 1.2% |
| BLM | 49 | 0.1% |
| Other public | 24 | 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 217
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas in HD 217, 13,488 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Dunkleberg (13,171 acres, Type 1) and Dutton Ranch (316 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 217?
FWP estimates 105 elk were harvested in HD 217 in 2025: 66 bulls, 39 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 544 hunters took 92 elk, about 17 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 | 105 | 66 | 39 | 0 | 43 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 92 | 47 | 43 | 2 | 31 | 544 | 4,378 | 17 |
| 2023 | 87 | 60 | 25 | 2 | 34 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 109 | 57 | 53 | 0 | 33 | 444 | 3,361 | 25 |
| 2021 | 81 | 47 | 34 | 0 | 27 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 120 | 47 | 67 | 6 | 38 | 525 | 4,094 | 23 |
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 217?
FWP estimates 151 deer were harvested in HD 217 in 2025: 52 mule deer and 98 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 486 deer hunters spent 3,268 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 151 | 52 | 98 | 97 | 54 | 63 | 486 | 3,268 |
| 2024 | 141 | 44 | 97 | 82 | 59 | 39 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 137 | 32 | 105 | 97 | 41 | 61 | 508 | 3,229 |
| 2022 | 154 | 40 | 114 | 70 | 85 | 52 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 132 | 44 | 88 | 58 | 70 | 38 | 401 | 2,834 |
| 2020 | 135 | 13 | 122 | 54 | 80 | 46 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 217 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 217:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 19-Nov 29 | ArchEquip only. | |||
| General Elk License | 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: 217-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 160 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk B License: 217-02 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 150 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid on private land only. |
| Elk Permit: 217-10 | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | April 1 | 175 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Bull Elk in any other HDs during this described season. |
| Elk Permit: 217-11 | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | April 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 12-15. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Bull Elk in any other HDs during this described season. |
When is deer season in HD 217 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 217 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. NOT valid on 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: 217-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 65 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| Deer B License: 217-01 | 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. Up to two per hunter. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 61 to 62, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 217 before you go.
How do you get to HD 217?
Highways through the district: I-90 (about 21 miles inside it), US 12 (about 21 miles inside it) and MT 1 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: Drummond and Goldcreek. Nearby: Philipsburg (8 miles) and Deer Lodge (14 miles).
Which districts border HD 217?
HD 217 touches 5 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 212 | West Flint Range | 77.5% | 38 | 126 |
| HD 213 | East Flint Range | 46.2% | 325 | 337 |
| HD 291 | East Garnet Range | 20.1% | 133 | 110 |
| HD 292 | West Garnet Range | 48.1% | 121 | 531 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 217 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk (archery equipment only) in HD 217 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 61). FWP also lists 4 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 217?
Drummond and Goldcreek are inside the district. Just outside: Philipsburg (8 miles) and Deer Lodge (14 miles).
Does HD 217 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas covering 13,488 acres in HD 217: 1 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Dunkleberg at 13,171 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 217?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 217 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 217
Those portions of Granite and Powell Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Interstate 90 and State Route 1 near Drummond, then south on said route to FS Road 676 (Maxville Road, becomes Princeton Road) at Maxville, then southeasterly on said road to FS Road 1500 (Princeton Gulch Road), 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, then northeast on said road until it reaches interstate 90, then northwesterly on said Interstate to its junction with State Route 1 near Drummond, 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, pages 61 to 62.
- 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.