Hunting District 250, West Fork Bitterroot: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 250 (West Fork Bitterroot) is 97% public land, most of it national forest (344,239 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 38 elk and 175 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 130 elk hunters spent 1,517 days here and took 51 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 landOther publicHD 250Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 355,100 acres (555 square miles) |
| Public land | 97% (344,565 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 38 (17 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 175 (18 mule deer, 157 white-tailed) |
| Bull elk | Elk Permit 250-45 (quota 45, apply by April 1) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Darby |
HD 250 is the West Fork of the Bitterroot, along the West Fork road (MT 473) for about 28 miles toward the Idaho line. It is 96.9% national forest. FWP lists no General Elk License season here: elk hunting is on brow-tined bull permits 250-45 and 250-46 and antlerless B license 250-00.
How much public land is in HD 250?
97% of HD 250 is public land: 344,565 of its 355,100 acres. The largest share is national forest, 344,239 acres or 96.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 250 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 344,239 | 96.9% |
| Other public | 954 | 0.3% |
| State trust land | 326 | 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.
How many elk are harvested in HD 250?
FWP estimates 38 elk were harvested in HD 250 in 2025: 17 bulls, 21 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 130 hunters took 51 elk, about 39 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 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 51 | 36 | 15 | 0 | 21 | 130 | 1,517 | 39 |
| 2023 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 138 | 1,410 | 22 |
| 2021 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 18 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 136 | 1,355 | 29 |
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 250?
FWP estimates 175 deer were harvested in HD 250 in 2025: 18 mule deer and 157 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 449 deer hunters spent 3,207 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 175 | 18 | 157 | 165 | 11 | 116 | 449 | 3,207 |
| 2024 | 172 | 17 | 155 | 153 | 19 | 104 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 188 | 23 | 165 | 165 | 23 | 113 | 421 | 2,640 |
| 2022 | 180 | 22 | 158 | 170 | 10 | 124 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 141 | 17 | 123 | 141 | 0 | 107 | 328 | 2,089 |
| 2020 | 100 | 14 | 86 | 96 | 3 | 57 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 250 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 250:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk B License: 250-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk Permit: 250-45 | Brow-tined Bull Elk | April 1 | 45 | 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 Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
| Elk Permit: 250-46 | Brow-tined Bull Elk | April 1 | 45 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | NOT VALID DURING ARCHERY SEASON. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
When is deer season in HD 250 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 250 allows white-tailed deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29). A mule deer buck in HD 250 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 250-50, quota 25, apply by April 1.
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. | |||
| Deer Permit: 250-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 63, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 250 before you go.
How do you get to HD 250?
Highways through the district: MT 473 (about 28 miles inside it). Nearby: Darby (7 miles).
Which districts border HD 250?
HD 250 touches 2 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 240 | West Bitterroot | 79.8% | 136 | 775 |
| HD 270 | East Fork Bitterroot | 84.6% | 621 | 395 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 250 on a general license?
Not on the General Elk License alone. FWP's 2026 table for HD 250 lists no General Elk License season here: elk hunting is on drawn permits and B licenses (regulations page 63). A brow-tined bull takes Elk Permit 250-45 (quota 45, apply by April 1), used with the General Elk License.
What is the closest town to HD 250?
No town is inside it. The nearest is Darby (7 miles).
Does HD 250 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 250.
Where is FWP's map of HD 250?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 250 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
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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 63.
- 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.