Hunting District 282, Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 282 (Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA) is 86% public land, most of it FWP land (14,537 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 31 elk and 104 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 261 elk hunters spent 1,680 days here and took 21 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 landFWP landOther publicHD 282Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 26,136 acres (41 square miles) |
| Public land | 86% (22,476 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 51 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 31 (12 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 104 (11 mule deer, 93 white-tailed) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 20 miles |
HD 282 is the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA and the land around it, where MT 83 meets MT 200: 41 square miles, 55.6% of it FWP land. The general licenses cover the archery-only season; in the rifle season, deer bucks take permits 282-50 and 282-51, and adult elk hunters have antlerless B license 282-00. FWP closes the WMA December 2 to May 15.
How much public land is in HD 282?
86% of HD 282 is public land: 22,476 of its 26,136 acres. The largest share is FWP land, 14,537 acres or 55.6% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 282 |
|---|---|---|
| FWP land | 14,537 | 55.6% |
| State trust land | 6,851 | 26.2% |
| National forest | 703 | 2.7% |
| Other public | 449 | 1.7% |
| BLM | 385 | 1.5% |
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 282
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 282, 51 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Blackfoot (51 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 282: Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA (21,357 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 282?
FWP estimates 31 elk were harvested in HD 282 in 2025: 12 bulls, 19 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 261 hunters took 21 elk, about 8 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 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 5 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 21 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 261 | 1,680 | 8 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 293 | 1,783 | 9 |
| 2021 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 9 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 211 | 1,366 | 2 |
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 282?
FWP estimates 104 deer were harvested in HD 282 in 2025: 11 mule deer and 93 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 367 deer hunters spent 2,250 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 104 | 11 | 93 | 87 | 15 | 71 | 367 | 2,250 |
| 2024 | 95 | 11 | 85 | 81 | 14 | 52 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 62 | 5 | 58 | 55 | 7 | 35 | 257 | 1,611 |
| 2022 | 94 | 17 | 77 | 77 | 17 | 52 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 67 | 8 | 59 | 62 | 5 | 33 | 198 | 1,195 |
| 2020 | 56 | 7 | 50 | 43 | 13 | 16 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 282 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 282:
| 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 | |||||
| Elk B License: 282-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk Permit: 282-10 | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | April 1 | 1 | 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 Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
When is deer season in HD 282 in 2026?
A mule deer buck in HD 282 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 282-50, quota 6, 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 Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| Deer B License: 282-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer Permit: 282-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 6 | 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. |
| Deer Permit: 282-51 | Antlered Buck White-tailed 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 White-tailed Deer in any other HD. |
FWP's notes for HD 282: Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA closed Dec 02-May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 68, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 282 before you go.
How do you get to HD 282?
Highways through the district: MT 200 (about 7 miles inside it) and MT 83 (about 3 miles inside it).
Which districts border HD 282?
HD 282 touches 2 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 285 | Monture | 73.3% | 113 | 1,107 |
| HD 292 | West Garnet Range | 48.1% | 121 | 531 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 282 on a general license?
Only in the archery-only season, September 5 to October 18. In the general season FWP's 2026 table for HD 282 lists elk hunting on drawn permits and B licenses (regulations page 68).
What is the closest town to HD 282?
No town lies inside HD 282, and none is within 20 miles of its boundary in the Census Bureau's list of places.
Does HD 282 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 282: Blackfoot, 51 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 282?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 282 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 68.
- 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.