Hunting District 310, Upper Gallatin: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 310 (Upper Gallatin) is 90.8% public land, most of it national forest (173,599 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 58 elk and 74 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 908 elk hunters spent 7,510 days here and took 117 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestFWP landNational park (no hunting)Other publicHD 310Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 200,780 acres (314 square miles) |
| Public land | 90.8% (182,245 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 58 (52 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 74 (37 mule deer, 38 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls (not on FWP and national forest Lands in the Gallatin Special Management Area) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | West Yellowstone |
HD 310 is the Gallatin River canyon north of Yellowstone National Park, along US 191. On FWP and national forest land in the Gallatin Special Management Area, deer and elk hunting is closed except elk on permit 310-46. Gallatin WMA has 8,644 acres here and is closed December 2 to May 15.
How much public land is in HD 310?
90.8% of HD 310 is public land: 182,245 of its 200,780 acres. The largest share is national forest, 173,599 acres or 86.5% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 310 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 173,599 | 86.5% |
| FWP land | 8,646 | 4.3% |
| Other public | 40 | under 0.1% |
| National park (no hunting) | 19 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026. National park land is closed to hunting.
Wildlife management area in HD 310: Gallatin WMA (8,644 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 310?
FWP estimates 58 elk were harvested in HD 310 in 2025: 52 bulls, 6 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 908 hunters took 117 elk, about 13 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 | 58 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 30 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 117 | 98 | 15 | 3 | 42 | 908 | 7,510 | 13 |
| 2023 | 78 | 60 | 15 | 3 | 24 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 199 | 187 | 12 | 0 | 97 | 873 | 6,855 | 23 |
| 2021 | 108 | 86 | 17 | 4 | 41 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 124 | 97 | 27 | 0 | 56 | 746 | 5,745 | 17 |
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 310?
FWP estimates 74 deer were harvested in HD 310 in 2025: 37 mule deer and 38 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 527 deer hunters spent 3,514 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 74 | 37 | 38 | 67 | 7 | 37 | 527 | 3,514 |
| 2024 | 60 | 39 | 21 | 45 | 12 | 24 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 91 | 55 | 36 | 76 | 15 | 30 | 504 | 3,778 |
| 2022 | 56 | 32 | 25 | 41 | 15 | 26 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 43 | 31 | 11 | 30 | 13 | 19 | 295 | 1,884 |
| 2020 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 27 | 3 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 310 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 310:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Not valid on FWP and National Forest Lands in the Gallatin Special Management Area. | ||
| Elk Permit: 310-46 | Brow-tined Bull Elk | April 1 | 5 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on FWP and National Forest Lands in the Gallatin Special Management Area. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
When is deer season in HD 310 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 310 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. |
FWP's notes for HD 310: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Gallatin Special Management Area closed to all deer and elk hunting except elk hunting by special permit only. Gallatin WMA closed Dec 02-May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 74, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 310 before you go.
How do you get to HD 310?
Highways through the district: US 191 (about 17 miles inside it). Nearby: West Yellowstone (16 miles).
Which districts border HD 310?
HD 310 touches 4 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 304 | Spanish Peaks | 42.3% | 83 | 185 |
| HD 314 | Upper Yellowstone West | 41.8% | 460 | 589 |
| HD 360 | Madison Range | 54.6% | 629 | 483 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 310 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls (not on FWP and national forest Lands in the Gallatin Special Management Area) in HD 310 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 74). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 310?
No town is inside it. The nearest is West Yellowstone (16 miles).
Does HD 310 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 310.
Where is FWP's map of HD 310?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 310 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 74.
- 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.