Hunting District 285, Monture: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 285 (Monture) is 73.3% public land, most of it national forest (213,573 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 113 elk and 1,107 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,798 elk hunters spent 15,286 days here and took 56 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 285Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 423,419 acres (662 square miles) |
| Public land | 73.3% (310,539 acres) |
| Block Management | 6 areas, 89,206 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 113 (88 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,107 (144 mule deer, 962 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 | Seeley Lake, Twin Creeks, Missoula and St. Ignatius |
HD 285 is the Clearwater valley around Seeley Lake and the Monture Creek country east of it, with MT 83 running about 28 miles inside. Marshall Creek WMA has 24,791 acres in it. The Seeley Lake Game Preserve is closed to all hunting.
How much public land is in HD 285?
73.3% of HD 285 is public land: 310,539 of its 423,419 acres. The largest share is national forest, 213,573 acres or 50.4% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 285 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 213,573 | 50.4% |
| BLM | 48,484 | 11.5% |
| FWP land | 26,309 | 6.2% |
| State trust land | 22,055 | 5.2% |
| Other public | 12,160 | 2.9% |
| National wildlife refuge | 118 | under 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.
Block Management in HD 285
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas in HD 285, 89,206 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: The Nature Conservancy (58,399 acres, Type 1), Morrison Peak (20,696 acres, Type 1), Shanley Creek (6,125 acres, Type 2), Dick Creek (2,018 acres, Type 2) and Case Ranch (1,872 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 285: Marshall Creek WMA (24,791 acres here) and Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA (1,062 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 285?
FWP estimates 113 elk were harvested in HD 285 in 2025: 88 bulls, 25 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,798 hunters took 56 elk, about 3 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 | 113 | 88 | 25 | 0 | 29 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 56 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 1,798 | 15,286 | 3 |
| 2023 | 89 | 61 | 28 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 87 | 61 | 23 | 3 | 19 | 1,545 | 11,964 | 6 |
| 2021 | 70 | 54 | 16 | 0 | 20 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 91 | 63 | 25 | 4 | 38 | 1,377 | 11,203 | 7 |
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 285?
FWP estimates 1,107 deer were harvested in HD 285 in 2025: 144 mule deer and 962 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 3,133 deer hunters spent 20,680 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,107 | 144 | 962 | 1,010 | 97 | 603 | 3,133 | 20,680 |
| 2024 | 982 | 109 | 872 | 875 | 107 | 508 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 929 | 100 | 829 | 773 | 150 | 446 | 2,665 | 18,860 |
| 2022 | 813 | 85 | 728 | 665 | 144 | 332 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 703 | 44 | 659 | 629 | 74 | 326 | 2,106 | 14,948 |
| 2020 | 567 | 40 | 528 | 491 | 76 | 255 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 285 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 285:
| 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: 285-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 30 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private lands, excluding Nature Conservancy lands/Montana Checkerboard lands. |
When is deer season in HD 285 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 285 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Oct 30), mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29) and white-tailed deer bucks (Oct 31-Nov 29).
| 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-Oct 30 | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. | |||
| Deer B License: 285-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
FWP's notes for HD 285: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Seeley Lake Game Preserve is closed to all hunting.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 69, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 285 before you go.
How do you get to HD 285?
Highways through the district: MT 83 (about 28 miles inside it) and MT 200 (about 14 miles inside it). Towns inside: Seeley Lake and Twin Creeks. Nearby: Missoula (11 miles) and St. Ignatius (16 miles).
Which districts border HD 285?
HD 285 touches 9 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 130 | Swan | 90% | 44 | 650 |
| HD 150 | Upper South Fork | 100% | 47 | 44 |
| HD 201 | Missoula - Ninemile - North Superior | 76.4% | 274 | 1,025 |
| HD 280 | North Blackfoot | 100% | 17 | 48 |
| HD 281 | Upper Blackfoot | 74.9% | 77 | 373 |
| HD 282 | Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA | 86% | 31 | 104 |
| HD 290 | Helmville-Ovando Archery District | 18% | 80 | 88 |
| HD 292 | West Garnet Range | 48.1% | 121 | 531 |
| HD 298 | Ovando-Helmville | 6.8% | 56 | 108 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 285 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 285 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 69). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 285?
Seeley Lake and Twin Creeks are inside the district. Just outside: Missoula (11 miles) and St. Ignatius (16 miles).
Does HD 285 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas covering 89,206 acres in HD 285: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is The Nature Conservancy at 58,399 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 285?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 285 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 69.
- 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.
Montana hunting Region 2 HD 130 HD 150 HD 201 HD 280 HD 281 HD 282 HD 290 HD 292 HD 298