Hunting District 311, Lower Madison: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 311 (Lower Madison) is 13.4% public land, most of it state trust land (36,663 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 198 elk and 948 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 794 elk hunters spent 5,776 days here and took 238 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 311Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 361,848 acres (565 square miles) |
| Public land | 13.4% (48,378 acres) |
| Block Management | 2 areas, 2,696 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 198 (56 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 948 (295 mule deer, 653 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 | Three Forks, Churchill, Willow Creek, Manhattan, Belgrade and Whitehall |
HD 311 is the lower Madison and Jefferson valleys around Three Forks, Willow Creek, Harrison and Norris. Only 13.4% is public land. By FWP's estimates the elk harvest fell from 574 in 2020 to 198 in 2025.
How much public land is in HD 311?
13.4% of HD 311 is public land: 48,378 of its 361,848 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 36,663 acres or 10.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 311 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 36,663 | 10.1% |
| BLM | 7,867 | 2.2% |
| FWP land | 3,373 | 0.9% |
| Other public | 3,345 | 0.9% |
| National forest | 475 | 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 311
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas in HD 311, 2,696 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Maichel Ranch (1,860 acres, Type 1) and Barrick Golden Sunlight (836 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 311?
FWP estimates 198 elk were harvested in HD 311 in 2025: 56 bulls, 136 cows and 7 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 794 hunters took 238 elk, about 30 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 | 198 | 56 | 136 | 7 | 42 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 238 | 75 | 161 | 3 | 49 | 794 | 5,776 | 30 |
| 2023 | 215 | 68 | 135 | 12 | 56 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 295 | 114 | 161 | 19 | 80 | 954 | 6,417 | 31 |
| 2021 | 447 | 160 | 284 | 4 | 122 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 574 | 233 | 315 | 26 | 136 | 1,644 | 11,202 | 35 |
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 311?
FWP estimates 948 deer were harvested in HD 311 in 2025: 295 mule deer and 653 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,633 deer hunters spent 9,458 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 948 | 295 | 653 | 534 | 414 | 366 | 1,633 | 9,458 |
| 2024 | 1,087 | 395 | 692 | 641 | 443 | 466 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 968 | 320 | 648 | 585 | 378 | 410 | 1,596 | 9,556 |
| 2022 | 935 | 306 | 629 | 561 | 369 | 398 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,110 | 413 | 697 | 651 | 455 | 401 | 1,928 | 12,380 |
| 2020 | 1,186 | 336 | 850 | 692 | 491 | 501 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 311 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 311:
| 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. | ||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | |||||
| Elk B License: 397-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 | One per hunter. Only valid on private land. Multi-district license. | ||
| 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. Not valid on National Forest Lands. Multi- district license. |
When is deer season in HD 311 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 311 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 | Either-sex Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | 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: 311-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 200 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| 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 75, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 311 before you go.
How do you get to HD 311?
Highways through the district: US 287 (about 28 miles inside it), MT 2 (about 26 miles inside it), I-90 (about 17 miles inside it) and MT 84 (about 14 miles inside it). Towns inside: Three Forks, Churchill, Willow Creek, Amsterdam, Norris and Harrison. Nearby: Manhattan (on the line), Belgrade (3 miles), Whitehall (7 miles) and Bozeman (8 miles).
Which districts border HD 311?
HD 311 touches 6 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 312 | West Bridger | 23% | 281 | 595 |
| HD 320 | Tobacco Root Mountains | 47% | 451 | 1,305 |
| HD 380 | Radersburg | 42.1% | 419 | 723 |
| HD 390 | Sixteenmile Creek | 9.8% | 162 | 233 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 311 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 311 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 75). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 311?
Three Forks, Churchill and Willow Creek are inside the district. Just outside: Manhattan (on the line), Belgrade (3 miles) and Whitehall (7 miles).
Does HD 311 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas covering 2,696 acres in HD 311: both are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Maichel Ranch at 1,860 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 311?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 311 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 311
Those portions of Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson and Broadwater Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of US Highway 287 and Route 84 at Norris, then northerly along said highway to its junction the Pony Road, then southwesterly along the Pony Road to its intersection with Adkins Lane, then westerly along Adkins Lane to the Carmichael Road, then westerly along the Carmichael Road to its intersection with the South Boulder Road, then northeasterly along the South Boulder Road to its intersection with Route 359, then north and west along said route to Interstate 90 near Cardwell, then easterly along said interstate to Heeb Road, then south on Heeb Road to Amsterdam Road, then east on Amsterdam Road to Linney Road, then south on Linney Road to Cameron Bridge Road, east on Cameron Bridge Road to River Road, south on River Road to Highway 84, then west along Highway 84 to 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 75.
- 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 304 HD 309 HD 312 HD 320 HD 380 HD 390