Hunting District 302, Tendoys: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 302 (Tendoys) is 75.8% public land, the largest part BLM (129,761 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 235 elk and 273 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,229 elk hunters spent 8,347 days here and took 272 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 302Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 383,510 acres (599 square miles) |
| Public land | 75.8% (290,733 acres) |
| Block Management | 3 areas, 5,137 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 235 (114 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 273 (232 mule deer, 42 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 | Lima and Dillon |
HD 302 is the Tendoy Mountains west of I-15 between Clark Canyon and Dell, from MT 324 south along the Idaho line to the Medicine Lodge road. BLM and national forest each hold about a third of it. FWP estimated 235 elk were taken here in 2025, against 423 in 2022.
How much public land is in HD 302?
75.8% of HD 302 is public land: 290,733 of its 383,510 acres. The largest share is BLM, 129,761 acres or 33.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 302 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 129,761 | 33.8% |
| National forest | 129,058 | 33.7% |
| State trust land | 29,126 | 7.6% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 2,788 | 0.7% |
| Other public | 195 | 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 302
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas in HD 302, 5,137 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Dragging Y Cattle (4,622 acres, Type 1), Welborn Ranch (400 acres, Type 1) and Bar Double T Bma (115 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 302?
FWP estimates 235 elk were harvested in HD 302 in 2025: 114 bulls, 113 cows and 7 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,229 hunters took 272 elk, about 22 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 | 235 | 114 | 113 | 7 | 32 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 272 | 116 | 145 | 11 | 31 | 1,229 | 8,347 | 22 |
| 2023 | 258 | 131 | 122 | 6 | 36 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 423 | 192 | 225 | 6 | 41 | 1,249 | 7,613 | 34 |
| 2021 | 305 | 154 | 132 | 19 | 41 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 288 | 94 | 187 | 7 | 23 | 1,085 | 8,258 | 27 |
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 302?
FWP estimates 273 deer were harvested in HD 302 in 2025: 232 mule deer and 42 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 960 deer hunters spent 7,112 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 273 | 232 | 42 | 190 | 80 | 72 | 960 | 7,112 |
| 2024 | 215 | 194 | 22 | 140 | 72 | 58 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 225 | 140 | 85 | 141 | 81 | 84 | 764 | 4,757 |
| 2022 | 167 | 130 | 37 | 118 | 49 | 69 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 216 | 183 | 32 | 138 | 74 | 66 | 726 | 4,422 |
| 2020 | 228 | 167 | 61 | 152 | 73 | 79 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 302 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 302:
| 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 | |||
| 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. | ||
| Elk B License: 399-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Multi-district license. |
When is deer season in HD 302 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 302 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer of either sex (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 | Either-sex 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. |
| Deer B License: 399-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Per hunter license quota set annually. Valid in HDs 302, 303, 320, 322, 323, 324, 329, 331, 340, and 360. |
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 302 before you go.
How do you get to HD 302?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 43 miles inside it). Nearby: Lima (7 miles) and Dillon (19 miles).
Which districts border HD 302?
HD 302 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 303 | Lima Peaks-Nicholia | 73.9% | 271 | 75 |
| HD 323 | Gravelly-Centennial | 73.3% | 748 | 671 |
| HD 324 | Blacktail Mountains | 48.2% | 416 | 573 |
| HD 329 | Big Hole Divide-Horse Prairie | 66.3% | 432 | 228 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 302 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 302 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 302?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Lima (7 miles) and Dillon (19 miles).
Does HD 302 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas covering 5,137 acres in HD 302: all 3 are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Dragging Y Cattle at 4,622 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 302?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 302 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 302
The portion of Beaverhead County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Route 324 and Interstate 15, then westerly along said route to Bannock Pass on the Montana Idaho border, then to the south-west along the Montana-Idaho border to the headwaters of Meadow Creek, then easterly along said creek to the Medicine Lodge-Big Sheep Road, then notheasterly along said road to Interstate 15 at Dell, then northerly along said interstate to its junction with Route 324, 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 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.