Hunting District 280, North Blackfoot: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 280 (North Blackfoot) is 100% public land, most of it national forest (194,927 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 17 elk and 48 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 212 elk hunters spent 1,509 days here and took 44 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestHD 280Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 194,951 acres (305 square miles) |
| Public land | 100% (194,927 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 17 (14 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 48 (7 mule deer, 41 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to 14 |
| General season, 2026 | September 15 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 20 miles |
HD 280 is the high country north of MT 200 between Monture Creek and the Continental Divide, up to the Flathead divide. It is 100% national forest with no numbered highway. Its general season opens September 15, for brow-tined bulls, and from September 26 the General Elk License covers antlerless elk too. FWP calls it remote, with difficult access.
How much public land is in HD 280?
100% of HD 280 is public land: 194,927 of its 194,951 acres. The largest share is national forest, 194,927 acres or 100% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 280 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 194,927 | 100% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
How many elk are harvested in HD 280?
FWP estimates 17 elk were harvested in HD 280 in 2025: 14 bulls, 4 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 212 hunters took 44 elk, about 21 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 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 212 | 1,509 | 21 |
| 2023 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 6 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 32 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 196 | 1,643 | 16 |
| 2021 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 181 | 1,197 | 9 |
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 280?
FWP estimates 48 deer were harvested in HD 280 in 2025: 7 mule deer and 41 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 191 deer hunters spent 1,204 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48 | 7 | 41 | 41 | 6 | 24 | 191 | 1,204 |
| 2024 | 37 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 0 | 19 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 149 | 968 |
| 2022 | 37 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 7 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 27 | 3 | 24 | 27 | 0 | 20 | 99 | 522 |
| 2020 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 3 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 280 in 2026?
Archery only: September 5 to 14. General season: September 15 to November 29, 2026. Every elk license and permit FWP lists for HD 280:
| 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-Sep 14 | Sep 26-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Sep 15-Sep 25 | |||||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | Sep 15-Sep 25 | Only youth ages 12-15. |
When is deer season in HD 280 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 280 allows white-tailed deer bucks (Sep 15-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Sep 15-Nov 29).
| 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 | Sep 5-Sep 14 | Sep 15-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Sep 14 | Sep 15-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 15-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. |
FWP's notes for HD 280: Backcountry-Remote location, access difficult.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 67, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 280 before you go.
How do you get to HD 280?
No numbered highway crosses the district.
Which districts border HD 280?
HD 280 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 150 | Upper South Fork | 100% | 47 | 44 |
| HD 281 | Upper Blackfoot | 74.9% | 77 | 373 |
| HD 285 | Monture | 73.3% | 113 | 1,107 |
| HD 422 | North Dearborn | 45.1% | 136 | 306 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 280 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls in HD 280 during the general season, September 15 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 67).
What is the closest town to HD 280?
No town lies inside HD 280, and none is within 20 miles of its boundary in the Census Bureau's list of places.
Does HD 280 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 280.
Where is FWP's map of HD 280?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 280 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 280
Those portions of Powell and Lewis and Clark Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning on Monture Creek Trail 27 at its junction with Falls Creek Trail 16, then north along Monture Creek Trail 27 to Center Creek Trail 463, then west along said trail to Center Creek Trail 246, then west along the watershed divide to Youngs Pass and the Flathead-Blackfoot Divide, then northeast along said Divide to Triple Divide Mountain and the Continental Divide, then southeasterly along said Divide then west 0.4 miles along posted boundary to the Woodworth Road, then south on the Woodworth Road to State Route 200, then six miles west on said route to its junction with State Route 83, 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 67.
- 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.