Hunting District 292, West Garnet Range: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 292 (West Garnet Range) is 48.1% public land, most of it BLM (74,567 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 121 elk and 531 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,172 elk hunters spent 9,053 days here and took 82 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 292Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 309,755 acres (484 square miles) |
| Public land | 48.1% (149,114 acres) |
| Block Management | 9 areas, 91,116 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 121 (86 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 531 (242 mule deer, 289 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 | Turah, Piltzville, Potomac, Drummond and Missoula |
HD 292 is the west Garnet Range between Missoula and Drummond, north to the Blackfoot River and MT 200. BLM and state trust land are nearly equal shares, 24.1% and 23.9%, and nine Block Management areas add 91,116 acres.
How much public land is in HD 292?
48.1% of HD 292 is public land: 149,114 of its 309,755 acres. The largest share is BLM, 74,567 acres or 24.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 292 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 74,567 | 24.1% |
| State trust land | 74,171 | 23.9% |
| Other public | 11,659 | 3.8% |
| FWP land | 348 | 0.1% |
| National forest | 28 | 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 292
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 9 areas in HD 292, 91,116 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Blackfoot (51,896 acres, Type 1), The Nature Conservancy (29,214 acres, Type 1), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Bearmouth (3,385 acres, Type 1), Wills Cattle Co (1,911 acres, Type 2) and King Mountain (1,898 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 292: Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA (217 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 292?
FWP estimates 121 elk were harvested in HD 292 in 2025: 86 bulls, 32 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,172 hunters took 82 elk, about 7 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 | 121 | 86 | 32 | 4 | 29 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 82 | 68 | 14 | 0 | 33 | 1,172 | 9,053 | 7 |
| 2023 | 97 | 69 | 28 | 0 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 87 | 73 | 14 | 0 | 38 | 948 | 6,711 | 9 |
| 2021 | 95 | 74 | 21 | 0 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 90 | 69 | 21 | 0 | 37 | 1,208 | 9,038 | 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 292?
FWP estimates 531 deer were harvested in HD 292 in 2025: 242 mule deer and 289 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,492 deer hunters spent 9,373 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 531 | 242 | 289 | 483 | 48 | 287 | 1,492 | 9,373 |
| 2024 | 554 | 235 | 319 | 492 | 62 | 268 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 468 | 158 | 311 | 407 | 59 | 243 | 1,477 | 8,958 |
| 2022 | 466 | 112 | 354 | 408 | 58 | 213 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 449 | 149 | 300 | 366 | 83 | 192 | 1,128 | 6,775 |
| 2020 | 465 | 123 | 342 | 401 | 61 | 192 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 292 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 292:
| 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: 292-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 50 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Early: Aug 15-Oct 18 Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private lands, within the Blackfoot watershed. Not valid on Nature Conservancy/Montana Checkerboard lands. |
When is deer season in HD 292 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 292 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Oct 30), mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 15) 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 15 | ||||
| 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: 292-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land within the Blackfoot watershed. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 70, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 292 before you go.
How do you get to HD 292?
Highways through the district: US 12 (about 49 miles inside it), I-90 (about 49 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 37 miles inside it), US 210 (about 14 miles inside it) and US 10 (about 13 miles inside it). Towns inside: Turah, Piltzville and Potomac. Nearby: Drummond (on the line) and Missoula (6 miles).
Which districts border HD 292?
HD 292 touches 8 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 201 | Missoula - Ninemile - North Superior | 76.4% | 274 | 1,025 |
| HD 204 | North Sapphire | 62.9% | 113 | 406 |
| HD 210 | John Long Range | 43.3% | 172 | 295 |
| HD 217 | Northwest Flint Range | 29.2% | 105 | 151 |
| HD 282 | Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA | 86% | 31 | 104 |
| HD 285 | Monture | 73.3% | 113 | 1,107 |
| HD 291 | East Garnet Range | 20.1% | 133 | 110 |
| HD 298 | Ovando-Helmville | 6.8% | 56 | 108 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 292 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 292 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 70). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 292?
Turah, Piltzville and Potomac are inside the district. Just outside: Drummond (on the line) and Missoula (6 miles).
Does HD 292 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 9 areas covering 91,116 acres in HD 292: 7 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Blackfoot at 51,896 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 292?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 292 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 70.
- 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 201 HD 204 HD 210 HD 217 HD 282 HD 285 HD 291 HD 298