Hunting District 301, Hyalite-Portal: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 301 (Hyalite-Portal) is 85% public land, most of it national forest (172,094 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 153 elk and 315 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,107 elk hunters spent 8,029 days here and took 110 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 301Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 210,216 acres (328 square miles) |
| Public land | 85% (178,772 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 153 (92 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 315 (146 mule deer, 169 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Bozeman, Belgrade and Livingston |
HD 301 is the Gallatin Range south of Bozeman, from Bear Canyon and I-90 to the Hyalite and Portal Creek country and the Gallatin River near the West Fork. National forest is 81.9%. The General Elk License allows a brow-tined bull or an antlerless elk from October 24 to November 8, and a brow-tined bull only from November 9.
How much public land is in HD 301?
85% of HD 301 is public land: 178,772 of its 210,216 acres. The largest share is national forest, 172,094 acres or 81.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 301 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 172,094 | 81.9% |
| State trust land | 6,678 | 3.2% |
| Other public | 3,901 | 1.9% |
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.
How many elk are harvested in HD 301?
FWP estimates 153 elk were harvested in HD 301 in 2025: 92 bulls, 54 cows and 7 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,107 hunters took 110 elk, about 10 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 | 153 | 92 | 54 | 7 | 50 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 110 | 44 | 60 | 6 | 15 | 1,107 | 8,029 | 10 |
| 2023 | 123 | 91 | 32 | 0 | 32 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 231 | 181 | 49 | 0 | 103 | 1,135 | 7,811 | 20 |
| 2021 | 144 | 112 | 32 | 0 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 124 | 85 | 39 | 0 | 34 | 967 | 6,225 | 13 |
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 301?
FWP estimates 315 deer were harvested in HD 301 in 2025: 146 mule deer and 169 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,106 deer hunters spent 6,509 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 315 | 146 | 169 | 246 | 69 | 145 | 1,106 | 6,509 |
| 2024 | 301 | 99 | 202 | 235 | 66 | 165 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 241 | 102 | 139 | 174 | 67 | 101 | 952 | 6,492 |
| 2022 | 229 | 105 | 124 | 160 | 69 | 104 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 221 | 76 | 146 | 162 | 59 | 99 | 704 | 4,334 |
| 2020 | 243 | 74 | 170 | 164 | 79 | 100 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 301 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 301:
| 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 8 | ||||
| General Elk License | Either-sex Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 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. | ||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Nov 9-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 397-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 | One per hunter. Multi-district license. Only valid on private land. | ||
| Elk B License: 397-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | One per hunter. Multi-district license. Not valid on National Forest Lands. |
When is deer season in HD 301 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 301 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-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-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| Deer B License: 003-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | One per hunter. Valid in all Region 3 HDs. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 72, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 301 before you go.
How do you get to HD 301?
Highways through the district: US 191 (about 22 miles inside it) and I-90 (about 6 miles inside it). Nearby: Bozeman (5 miles), Belgrade (13 miles), Livingston (14 miles) and Manhattan (19 miles).
Which districts border HD 301?
HD 301 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 304 | Spanish Peaks | 42.3% | 83 | 185 |
| HD 309 | Gallatin Valley Weapons Restriction Area | 2.4% | 37 | 414 |
| HD 310 | Upper Gallatin | 90.8% | 58 | 74 |
| HD 314 | Upper Yellowstone West | 41.8% | 460 | 589 |
| HD 393 | East Bridger | 12.6% | 507 | 598 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 301 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls in HD 301 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 72). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 301?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Bozeman (5 miles), Belgrade (13 miles) and Livingston (14 miles).
Does HD 301 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 301.
Where is FWP's map of HD 301?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 301 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 301
Beginning at Bear Canyon Interchange/Interstate 90, easterly along Interstate 90 to Trail Creek Road, then southerly up said road to the Goose Creek Road, then southerly up said road to the Gallatin-Yellowstone Divide near the Old Cooper Reservoir, then south along said divide to Eaglehead Mountain, then in a northerly and westerly direction along the Portal-Porcupine Creeks and the Porcupine-Levinski Creeks divide to the Gallatin River near the mouth of the West Fork, then northerly down the Gallatin River to Gallatin Gateway, then east on Gallatin Gateway Road to US Highway 191, then south on US Highway 191 to Cottonwood Road, then southeast to intersection of Cottonwood and Enders Roads, continuing southeast from that intersection along Cottonwood Rd, north to South 19th, then east on South 19th to Nash Rd, then east on Nash Rd to Sourdough Canyon Rd, then south on Sourdough Canyon Rd. to the national forest boundary, then east along said boundary to boundary of State Land Sections 4, 3, 34, 35 and 1 to Bear Canyon Rd, then northerly on Bear Canyon Road, to 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 72.
- 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.