Hunting District 284, Lincoln Archery District: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 284 (Lincoln Archery District) is 12.6% public land, most of it state trust land (1,211 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 15 elk and 27 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 221 elk hunters spent 2,395 days here and took 32 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 284Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 10,901 acres (17 square miles) |
| Public land | 12.6% (1,375 acres) |
| Block Management | 3 areas, 2,662 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 15 (7 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 27 (13 mule deer, 14 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk (archery equipment only) |
| General season, 2026 | September 5 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Lincoln |
HD 284 is the valley around the town of Lincoln: at 17 square miles, the smallest deer and elk district in Montana. Deer and elk hunting is with archery equipment only, from September 5 to November 29, and FWP's restricted-area descriptions include the Lincoln Closed Area.
How much public land is in HD 284?
12.6% of HD 284 is public land: 1,375 of its 10,901 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 1,211 acres or 11.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 284 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 1,211 | 11.1% |
| Other public | 204 | 1.9% |
| National forest | 164 | 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 284
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas in HD 284, 2,662 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Sunny Slope (1,517 acres, Type 2), Keep Cool Hills (844 acres, Type 1) and The Nature Conservancy (300 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 284?
FWP estimates 15 elk were harvested in HD 284 in 2025: 7 bulls, 7 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 221 hunters took 32 elk, about 14 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 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 32 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 221 | 2,395 | 14 |
| 2023 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 6 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 167 | 1,557 | 7 |
| 2021 | 43 | 31 | 12 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 317 | 2,477 | 5 |
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 284?
FWP estimates 27 deer were harvested in HD 284 in 2025: 13 mule deer and 14 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 174 deer hunters spent 1,185 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | 13 | 14 | 25 | 3 | 22 | 174 | 1,185 |
| 2024 | 38 | 3 | 35 | 33 | 5 | 15 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 27 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 0 | 14 | 120 | 1,198 |
| 2022 | 33 | 10 | 23 | 26 | 6 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 49 | 3 | 46 | 49 | 0 | 42 | 200 | 1,392 |
| 2020 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 0 | 10 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 284 in 2026?
General season: September 5 to November 29, 2026. Every elk license and permit FWP lists for HD 284:
| 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-Nov 29 | ArchEquip only. |
When is deer season in HD 284 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 284 allows mule deer bucks (Sep 5-Nov 29, archery equipment only) and white-tailed deer bucks (Sep 5-Nov 29, archery equipment only).
| 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-Nov 29 | ArchEquip only. | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Nov 29 | ArchEquip only. |
FWP's notes for HD 284: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Lincoln Closed Area; Deer and Elk hunting is restricted to ArchEquip Only.
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 284 before you go.
How do you get to HD 284?
Highways through the district: MT 200 (about 8 miles inside it). Towns inside: Lincoln.
Which districts border HD 284?
HD 284 touches 2 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 281 | Upper Blackfoot | 74.9% | 77 | 373 |
| HD 293 | South Lincoln-Nevada Creek | 56.1% | 231 | 242 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 284 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk (archery equipment only) in HD 284 during the general season, September 5 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 68).
What is the closest town to HD 284?
Lincoln is inside the district.
Does HD 284 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas covering 2,662 acres in HD 284: 2 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Sunny Slope at 1,517 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 284?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 284 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 284
That portion of Lewis and Clark County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at State Route 200 at its intersection with the section line between Sections 28 and 29, T14N, R9W, then easterly up State Route 200 to its intersection with the Beaver Creek Road, then northerly along said road to its intersection with the Great Falls to Ovando powerline, then easterly along said powerline to its intersection with the Landers Fork of the Blackfoot River, then southwesterly down the Landers Fork to its confluence with the Blackfoot River, then westerly down said river to the section line between Sections 20 and 21, T14N, R8W, then southerly along said line to the southeast corner of Section 20, then westerly along the southern boundary of Sections 20 and 19 to its intersection with the Stemple Pass-Poorman Creek Road, then south along said road to the northeast corner of Section 1, T13N, R9W, at the junction with the Herrin Lakes Road, then northwesterly along said Herrin Lakes Road to its intersection with the Dalton Mtn Road, then northwesterly along said road to its junction with the Sauerkraut Road; then westerly along said road to the section line between Sections 28 and 29, T14N, R9W, then north along said section line to its intersection with State Route 200, 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 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.