Hunting District 261, East Bitterroot: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 261 (East Bitterroot) is 62.2% public land, most of it national forest (76,433 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 57 elk and 183 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 473 elk hunters spent 3,809 days here and took 48 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 landHD 261Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 137,273 acres (214 square miles) |
| Public land | 62.2% (85,374 acres) |
| Block Management | 2 areas, 469 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 57 (36 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 183 (9 mule deer, 174 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 | Hamilton, Stevensville and Pinesdale |
HD 261 is the east side of the Bitterroot from the Big Ditch irrigation canal up to the Sapphire crest, between the Burnt Fork and Skalkaho Pass. Calf Creek WMA has 2,415 acres here and is closed December 2 to May 15. A mule deer buck takes permit 261-50.
How much public land is in HD 261?
62.2% of HD 261 is public land: 85,374 of its 137,273 acres. The largest share is national forest, 76,433 acres or 55.7% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 261 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 76,433 | 55.7% |
| State trust land | 6,527 | 4.8% |
| FWP land | 2,414 | 1.8% |
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 261
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas in HD 261, 469 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Weber Ranch (399 acres, Type 1) and Swansons Orchard (70 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 261: Calf Creek WMA (2,415 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 261?
FWP estimates 57 elk were harvested in HD 261 in 2025: 36 bulls, 21 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 473 hunters took 48 elk, about 10 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 | 57 | 36 | 21 | 0 | 23 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 48 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 473 | 3,809 | 10 |
| 2023 | 25 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 89 | 56 | 30 | 3 | 30 | 520 | 3,671 | 17 |
| 2021 | 54 | 47 | 7 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 97 | 69 | 29 | 0 | 14 | 549 | 4,443 | 18 |
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 261?
FWP estimates 183 deer were harvested in HD 261 in 2025: 9 mule deer and 174 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 486 deer hunters spent 2,952 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 183 | 9 | 174 | 149 | 34 | 111 | 486 | 2,952 |
| 2024 | 147 | 15 | 132 | 112 | 35 | 81 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 185 | 8 | 177 | 143 | 42 | 123 | 500 | 3,392 |
| 2022 | 175 | 14 | 160 | 125 | 49 | 83 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 129 | 12 | 117 | 87 | 42 | 56 | 379 | 2,616 |
| 2020 | 187 | 18 | 169 | 132 | 55 | 96 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 261 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 261:
| 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: 261-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk B License: 262-01 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | One per hunter. Only valid on private lands in HDs 204, 261, 262, and 270. Must purchase before start of general rifle season. Restrictions apply, see each HD for more info. |
When is deer season in HD 261 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 261 allows white-tailed deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29). A mule deer buck in HD 261 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 261-50, quota 10, 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 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. | ||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| 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 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. | |||
| Deer B License: 260-01 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 19-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | ArchEquip only. Hunters may purchase up to three 260-01 antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses per hunter. Only valid in HDs 201 east of Hwy 93, 204, 240, 260, 261, 262, and 270. |
| Deer B License: 261-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 10 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| Deer B License: 299-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | One per hunter. Only valid on private land in HDs 204, 240, 261, and 270. |
| Deer Permit: 261-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 10 | 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. |
FWP's notes for HD 261: Calf Creek WMA closed Dec 02-May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 64 to 65, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 261 before you go.
How do you get to HD 261?
Highways through the district: MT 38 (about 2 miles inside it). Nearby: Hamilton (4 miles), Stevensville (5 miles), Pinesdale (8 miles) and Darby (12 miles).
Which districts border HD 261?
HD 261 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 211 | Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake | 82.2% | 100 | 103 |
| HD 216 | West Rock Creek-Quigg Peak | 89.8% | 44 | 141 |
| HD 262 | Bitterroot Farmlands | 2.1% | 184 | 368 |
| HD 270 | East Fork Bitterroot | 84.6% | 621 | 395 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 261 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 261 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 64). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 261?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Hamilton (4 miles), Stevensville (5 miles) and Pinesdale (8 miles).
Does HD 261 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas covering 469 acres in HD 261: both are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Weber Ranch at 399 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 261?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 261 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 261
That portion of Ravalli County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Skalkaho Pass, then westerly along State Route 38 (Skalkaho Road) to its junction with the Bitterroot Irrigation District Canal (a.k.a. Big Ditch), then north along said ditch to its intersection with Hamilton Heights Road, then east along said road to its intersection with Gray Fox Lane, then north along said lane to its intersection with the Miller Creek Number 4 to Hamilton Heights double H-frame power line, then northeast along said power line to its intersection with Willow Creek Road, then west along said road to its intersection with the BRID, then north along said ditch to its intersection with the west border of state land in T8NR19WS (across from Pine Hollow Road), then north along said border to its intersection with South Sunset Bench Road, then east along said road to its junction with La Fontaine Lane, then east and north along said lane to its junction with South Burnt Fork Road, then southeast along said road to USFS Trail 146 (Cutoff Gulch Trail), then northeast up said trail to the Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide, then southerly along said divide 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, pages 64 to 65.
- 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.