Hunting District 312, West Bridger: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 312 (West Bridger) is 23% public land, most of it national forest (56,771 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 281 elk and 595 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,089 elk hunters spent 7,739 days here and took 230 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 312Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 316,815 acres (495 square miles) |
| Public land | 23% (72,919 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 1,767 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 281 (149 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 595 (178 mule deer, 417 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 | Manhattan, Sedan, Ponderosa Pines, Three Forks, Bozeman and Belgrade |
HD 312 is the west side of the Bridger Range and the north end of the Gallatin Valley, from Manhattan and Bozeman's edge north to Sixteen Mile Creek and Maudlow. Mule deer rules split at the Springhill-Rocky Mountain Road: west of it the General Deer License covers mule deer bucks; east of it a buck takes permit 312-50.
How much public land is in HD 312?
23% of HD 312 is public land: 72,919 of its 316,815 acres. The largest share is national forest, 56,771 acres or 17.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 312 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 56,771 | 17.9% |
| State trust land | 10,270 | 3.2% |
| BLM | 4,203 | 1.3% |
| FWP land | 1,588 | 0.5% |
| Other public | 1,220 | 0.4% |
| National wildlife refuge | 87 | 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 312
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 312, 1,767 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is 320 Ranch Horseshoe Hills (1,767 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 312?
FWP estimates 281 elk were harvested in HD 312 in 2025: 149 bulls, 132 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,089 hunters took 230 elk, about 21 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 | 281 | 149 | 132 | 0 | 68 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 230 | 114 | 101 | 15 | 49 | 1,089 | 7,739 | 21 |
| 2023 | 240 | 152 | 82 | 6 | 102 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 285 | 173 | 103 | 9 | 96 | 1,169 | 7,186 | 24 |
| 2021 | 266 | 143 | 123 | 0 | 92 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 326 | 160 | 159 | 7 | 95 | 1,397 | 8,269 | 23 |
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 312?
FWP estimates 595 deer were harvested in HD 312 in 2025: 178 mule deer and 417 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,459 deer hunters spent 8,909 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 595 | 178 | 417 | 411 | 180 | 286 | 1,459 | 8,909 |
| 2024 | 705 | 171 | 535 | 491 | 215 | 382 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 559 | 189 | 370 | 371 | 181 | 242 | 1,471 | 8,723 |
| 2022 | 694 | 191 | 503 | 446 | 249 | 342 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 680 | 194 | 486 | 457 | 223 | 302 | 1,341 | 7,253 |
| 2020 | 895 | 216 | 680 | 520 | 375 | 377 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 312 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 312:
| 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 | Not valid on National Forest Land. | ||||
| Elk B License: 397-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 | One per hunter. Multi-district license. Only valid on private land. | ||
| 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. Multi-district license. Not valid on National Forest Lands. |
When is deer season in HD 312 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 312 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29, west of Springhill/ Rocky Mtn Rd).
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Deer License | Antlerless Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Only valid east of Springhill/ Rocky Mtn Rd. | ||||
| 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 | Only valid west of Springhill/ Rocky Mtn Rd. | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid west of Springhill/ Rocky Mtn Rd. | |||
| 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: 312-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| 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. |
| Deer Permit: 312-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 40 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid east of Springhill/ Rocky Mtn Rd. 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, pages 75 to 76, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 312 before you go.
How do you get to HD 312?
Highways through the district: I-90 (about 28 miles inside it) and US 10 (about 15 miles inside it). Towns inside: Manhattan, Sedan, Ponderosa Pines, Gallatin River Ranch, Bridger and Springhill. Nearby: Three Forks (on the line), Bozeman (2 miles), Belgrade (3 miles) and Clyde Park (13 miles).
Which districts border HD 312?
HD 312 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 309 | Gallatin Valley Weapons Restriction Area | 2.4% | 37 | 414 |
| HD 311 | Lower Madison | 13.4% | 198 | 948 |
| HD 390 | Sixteenmile Creek | 9.8% | 162 | 233 |
| HD 393 | East Bridger | 12.6% | 507 | 598 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 312 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 312 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 312?
Manhattan, Sedan and Ponderosa Pines are inside the district. Just outside: Three Forks (on the line), Bozeman (2 miles) and Belgrade (3 miles).
Does HD 312 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 312: 320 Ranch Horseshoe Hills, 1,767 acres, a Type 2 area, where the landowner or FWP gives permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 312?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 312 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 312
Those portions of Gallatin County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Sixteen Mile Creek and the Missouri River, then southerly up the east bank of said river to the Jefferson River, then southerly up the east bank of said river to its intersection with Interstate 90 near Three Forks, then southeasterly along said interstate to its junction with Heeb Road, east on Heeb Road to Highway 10, southeasterly along Highway 10 to Weaver Road, then east on Weaver Road to its intersection with Hamilton Road at Highway 290, then east and north on Hamilton Road to Wes Davis Road, then east and south on Wes Davis Road to Penwell Bridge Road, then east on Penwell Bridge Road to Walker Road, then south on Walker Road to East Baseline Road, east on Baseline East Road to Bostwick Road, south on Bostwick Road, to Saddle Mountain Road, west on Saddle Mountain Road to Summer Cuttoff Road, south on Summer Cuttoff Road to Sypes Canyon Road, southeasterly on Sypes Canyon Road to Rolling Hills Road, south on Rolling Hills Road to Lookfar Way, south on Lookfar Way to Deer Creek Drive, south on Deer Creek Drive to Story Mill Road, south on Story Mill Road to Route 86, then easterly and northerly along said route to its junction with the Flathead Pass Road, then westerly along said road to Flathead Pass and the Bridger Range Divide, then northerly and westerly along said divide to Blacktail Mountain, then westerly down Olie Canyon to the Rocky Mountain Road, then northerly along said road to Blacktail Divide Road, then one mile westerly along said road to Brammer Creek Road, then northerly along said road to the Dry Creek Road, then northerly along said road to Maudlow, then easterly along the Maudlow-Ringling Road to the bridge over Sixteen Mile Creek, then westerly down said creek to the Missouri River, 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, pages 75 to 76.
- 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.