Hunting District 303, Lima Peaks-Nicholia: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 303 (Lima Peaks-Nicholia) is 73.9% public land, most of it national forest (117,415 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 271 elk and 75 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,180 elk hunters spent 7,734 days here and took 274 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 landOther publicHD 303Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 208,966 acres (327 square miles) |
| Public land | 73.9% (154,424 acres) |
| Block Management | 2 areas, 20,672 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 271 (157 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 75 (47 mule deer, 28 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 |
HD 303 is the Lima Peaks and Nicholia Creek country south of Lima, between I-15, the Big Sheep Creek road and the Idaho line. FWP's harvest figures for it start in 2022. A mule deer buck takes permit 300-50.
How much public land is in HD 303?
73.9% of HD 303 is public land: 154,424 of its 208,966 acres. The largest share is national forest, 117,415 acres or 56.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 303 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 117,415 | 56.2% |
| BLM | 19,884 | 9.5% |
| State trust land | 17,125 | 8.2% |
| Other public | 66 | 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 303
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas in HD 303, 20,672 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Snowline Grazing Association (19,387 acres, Type 1) and Buhler (1,285 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 303?
FWP estimates 271 elk were harvested in HD 303 in 2025: 157 bulls, 107 cows and 7 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,180 hunters took 274 elk, about 23 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 | 271 | 157 | 107 | 7 | 55 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 274 | 117 | 152 | 6 | 28 | 1,180 | 7,734 | 23 |
| 2023 | 171 | 113 | 55 | 3 | 26 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 241 | 113 | 125 | 3 | 25 | 928 | 5,448 | 26 |
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 303?
FWP estimates 75 deer were harvested in HD 303 in 2025: 47 mule deer and 28 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 348 deer hunters spent 2,477 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75 | 47 | 28 | 46 | 29 | 27 | 348 | 2,477 |
| 2024 | 67 | 50 | 18 | 40 | 27 | 25 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 103 | 78 | 25 | 62 | 41 | 28 | 327 | 2,125 |
| 2022 | 77 | 68 | 9 | 34 | 43 | 18 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 303 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 303:
| 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. | ||
| 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 303 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 303 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and antlerless mule deer (Oct 24-Nov 29). A mule deer buck in HD 303 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 300-50, quota 30, apply by April 1.
| 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 | Antlerless 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. |
| Deer Permit: 300-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 30 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 73, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 303 before you go.
How do you get to HD 303?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 43 miles inside it). Nearby: Lima (on the line).
Which districts border HD 303?
HD 303 touches 2 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 302 | Tendoys | 75.8% | 235 | 273 |
| HD 323 | Gravelly-Centennial | 73.3% | 748 | 671 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 303 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 303 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 73). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 303?
No town is inside it. The nearest is Lima (on the line).
Does HD 303 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas covering 20,672 acres in HD 303: both are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Snowline Grazing Association at 19,387 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 303?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 303 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 303
That portion of Beaverhead County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Interstate 15 and the Big Sheep Creek Road south of Dell, then southwesterly along said road to Meadow Creek, then westerly along said creek to the Montana-Idaho border, then southeasterly along said border to Italian Peak, then northeasterly along said border to Interstate 15 at Monida, then northerly along said interstate to the junction with the Big Sheep Road south of Dell, 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 73.
- 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.