Hunting District 298, Ovando-Helmville: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 298 (Ovando-Helmville) is 6.8% public land, the largest part national forest (2,801 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 56 elk and 108 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 307 elk hunters spent 2,066 days here and took 42 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 298Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 2, West-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 96,987 acres (152 square miles) |
| Public land | 6.8% (6,610 acres) |
| Block Management | 4 areas, 11,898 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 56 (25 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 108 (42 mule deer, 66 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Ovando, Helmville and Drummond |
HD 298 is the open valley country around Ovando and Helmville. Public land is only 6.8%; four Block Management areas add 11,898 acres. On the General Elk License an adult may take a brow-tined bull or an antlerless elk in the general season.
How much public land is in HD 298?
6.8% of HD 298 is public land: 6,610 of its 96,987 acres. The largest share is national forest, 2,801 acres or 2.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 298 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 2,801 | 2.9% |
| State trust land | 1,922 | 2% |
| BLM | 1,578 | 1.6% |
| FWP land | 309 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 30 | 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 298
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas in HD 298, 11,898 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Nevada-Ogden (7,087 acres, Type 2), The Nature Conservancy (3,569 acres, Type 1), King Mountain (1,171 acres, Type 1) and Blackfoot (70 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 298?
FWP estimates 56 elk were harvested in HD 298 in 2025: 25 bulls, 31 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 307 hunters took 42 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 | 56 | 25 | 31 | 0 | 11 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 42 | 12 | 30 | 0 | 6 | 307 | 2,066 | 14 |
| 2023 | 43 | 12 | 31 | 0 | 6 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 65 | 35 | 27 | 3 | 13 | 257 | 1,615 | 25 |
| 2021 | 46 | 15 | 31 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 34 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 288 | 1,941 | 12 |
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 298?
FWP estimates 108 deer were harvested in HD 298 in 2025: 42 mule deer and 66 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 286 deer hunters spent 1,663 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 108 | 42 | 66 | 105 | 4 | 70 | 286 | 1,663 |
| 2024 | 62 | 28 | 34 | 59 | 3 | 40 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 58 | 20 | 38 | 48 | 7 | 25 | 217 | 1,243 |
| 2022 | 54 | 17 | 38 | 31 | 20 | 18 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 52 | 12 | 40 | 44 | 8 | 44 | 177 | 1,077 |
| 2020 | 74 | 4 | 71 | 61 | 14 | 44 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 298 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 298:
| 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 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| Elk B License: 290-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Late: Nov 30-Jan 8 | Valid on private land only excluding Nature Conservancy lands. Also valid in HD 290 with restrictions. See HD 290 for more info. |
When is deer season in HD 298 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 298 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Oct 30), white-tailed deer bucks (Oct 31-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 15).
| 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 White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Oct 31-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 71, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 298 before you go.
How do you get to HD 298?
Highways through the district: MT 141 (about 9 miles inside it) and MT 200 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Ovando and Helmville. Nearby: Drummond (4 miles).
Which districts border HD 298?
HD 298 touches 6 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 285 | Monture | 73.3% | 113 | 1,107 |
| HD 290 | Helmville-Ovando Archery District | 18% | 80 | 88 |
| HD 291 | East Garnet Range | 20.1% | 133 | 110 |
| HD 292 | West Garnet Range | 48.1% | 121 | 531 |
| HD 293 | South Lincoln-Nevada Creek | 56.1% | 231 | 242 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 298 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 298 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 71). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 298?
Ovando and Helmville are inside the district. Just outside: Drummond (4 miles).
Does HD 298 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas covering 11,898 acres in HD 298: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Nevada-Ogden at 7,087 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 298?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 298 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 71.
- 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 281 HD 285 HD 290 HD 291 HD 292 HD 293