Hunting District 304, Spanish Peaks: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 304 (Spanish Peaks) is 42.3% public land, most of it national forest (104,587 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 83 elk and 185 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 554 elk hunters spent 3,705 days here and took 93 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 304Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 280,740 acres (439 square miles) |
| Public land | 42.3% (118,851 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 83 (69 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 185 (74 mule deer, 110 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 | Ennis, Bozeman and Belgrade |
HD 304 is the Spanish Peaks and the Madison-Gallatin divide between Norris, Big Sky and the Beartrap Canyon of the Madison. FWP's harvest figures for it start in 2022. The General Elk License allows a brow-tined bull or an antlerless elk in the general season.
How much public land is in HD 304?
42.3% of HD 304 is public land: 118,851 of its 280,740 acres. The largest share is national forest, 104,587 acres or 37.3% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 304 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 104,587 | 37.3% |
| BLM | 9,255 | 3.3% |
| Other public | 7,233 | 2.6% |
| State trust land | 4,990 | 1.8% |
| FWP land | 19 | 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.
How many elk are harvested in HD 304?
FWP estimates 83 elk were harvested in HD 304 in 2025: 69 bulls, 13 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 554 hunters took 93 elk, about 17 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 | 83 | 69 | 13 | 0 | 41 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 93 | 64 | 26 | 3 | 32 | 554 | 3,705 | 17 |
| 2023 | 63 | 49 | 14 | 0 | 21 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 137 | 98 | 38 | 0 | 74 | 489 | 2,399 | 28 |
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 304?
FWP estimates 185 deer were harvested in HD 304 in 2025: 74 mule deer and 110 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 462 deer hunters spent 2,772 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 185 | 74 | 110 | 141 | 44 | 79 | 462 | 2,772 |
| 2024 | 188 | 103 | 85 | 148 | 40 | 99 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 168 | 63 | 105 | 114 | 47 | 64 | 490 | 2,685 |
| 2022 | 181 | 108 | 73 | 145 | 36 | 69 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 304 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 304:
| 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. |
When is deer season in HD 304 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 304 allows mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29) and white-tailed 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 Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed 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: 398-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | One to three B licenses per hunter may be offered for purchase. Multi-district license. |
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 304 before you go.
How do you get to HD 304?
Highways through the district: MT 84 (about 14 miles inside it), US 191 (about 11 miles inside it), US 287 (about 5 miles inside it) and MT 64 (about 4 miles inside it). Nearby: Ennis (7 miles), Bozeman (7 miles), Belgrade (8 miles) and Manhattan (13 miles).
Which districts border HD 304?
HD 304 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 301 | Hyalite-Portal | 85% | 153 | 315 |
| HD 309 | Gallatin Valley Weapons Restriction Area | 2.4% | 37 | 414 |
| HD 310 | Upper Gallatin | 90.8% | 58 | 74 |
| HD 311 | Lower Madison | 13.4% | 198 | 948 |
| HD 320 | Tobacco Root Mountains | 47% | 451 | 1,305 |
| HD 360 | Madison Range | 54.6% | 629 | 483 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 304 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 304 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 73).
What is the closest town to HD 304?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Ennis (7 miles), Bozeman (7 miles) and Belgrade (8 miles).
Does HD 304 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 304.
Where is FWP's map of HD 304?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 304 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 304
Those portions of Madison and Gallatin Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of US Highway 287 and Route 84 at Norris, then easterly along said highway to Shedds Bridge, then south along the Gallatin River to the mouth of the West Fork of the Gallatin River at Big Sky, then west along the West Fork of the Gallatin River to its first intersection with Highway 64, then west and north along Highway 64 to the Gallatin-Madison Watershed divide, then along the Madison-Gallatin divide to Red Knob Mountain, then westerly down Trail Creek to its intersection with Ennis Lake Road in Beartrap Canyon, then southerly along said road to its intersection with the North Ennis Lake Road then west along said county road to its intersection with US Highway 287 at McAllister, then northerly along said highway to its intersection with Route 84 at Norris, 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.
Montana hunting Region 3 HD 301 HD 309 HD 310 HD 311 HD 320 HD 360