Hunting District 315, West Slope Crazy Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 315 (West Slope Crazy Mountains) is 20.4% public land, most of it national forest (65,962 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 389 elk and 631 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,858 elk hunters spent 12,163 days here and took 378 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 315Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 371,145 acres (580 square miles) |
| Public land | 20.4% (75,759 acres) |
| Block Management | 9 areas, 22,678 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 389 (208 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 631 (316 mule deer, 315 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Elk of either sex |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Clyde Park, Livingston and Big Timber |
HD 315 is the west side of the Crazy Mountains, from US 89 east to the Crazies' crest, between the Yellowstone River and Sixteen Mile Creek. The General Elk License allows elk of either sex in the general season. Nine Block Management areas cover 22,678 acres.
How much public land is in HD 315?
20.4% of HD 315 is public land: 75,759 of its 371,145 acres. The largest share is national forest, 65,962 acres or 17.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 315 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 65,962 | 17.8% |
| State trust land | 9,224 | 2.5% |
| BLM | 565 | 0.2% |
| Other public | 76 | under 0.1% |
| FWP land | 8 | 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 315
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 9 areas in HD 315, 22,678 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Arthun Ranches (8,746 acres, Type 1), Higgins Ranch (4,701 acres, Type 1), Sarrazin Ranch (2,451 acres, Type 2), Potter Basin Ss Bma (1,912 acres, Type 1) and Stutterheim Ranch (1,843 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 315?
FWP estimates 389 elk were harvested in HD 315 in 2025: 208 bulls, 171 cows and 10 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,858 hunters took 378 elk, about 20 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 | 389 | 208 | 171 | 10 | 114 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 378 | 191 | 183 | 3 | 104 | 1,858 | 12,163 | 20 |
| 2023 | 390 | 253 | 125 | 12 | 113 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 515 | 339 | 159 | 18 | 187 | 1,754 | 10,697 | 29 |
| 2021 | 414 | 237 | 178 | 0 | 113 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 335 | 227 | 108 | 0 | 101 | 1,582 | 10,719 | 21 |
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 315?
FWP estimates 631 deer were harvested in HD 315 in 2025: 316 mule deer and 315 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,587 deer hunters spent 10,277 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 631 | 316 | 315 | 427 | 201 | 278 | 1,587 | 10,277 |
| 2024 | 702 | 321 | 381 | 438 | 255 | 273 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 642 | 253 | 389 | 424 | 212 | 248 | 1,482 | 8,395 |
| 2022 | 671 | 293 | 379 | 443 | 217 | 263 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 597 | 197 | 400 | 401 | 196 | 219 | 1,338 | 8,170 |
| 2020 | 704 | 247 | 457 | 433 | 267 | 226 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 315 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 315:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Either-sex Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Not valid on National Forest Lands. | ||||
| 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 315 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 315 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 | Antlered Buck 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: 315-01 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 250 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer B License: 315-02 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 70 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid on private land only. |
FWP's notes for HD 315: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Yellowstone River Islands.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 77, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 315 before you go.
How do you get to HD 315?
Highways through the district: US 89 (about 42 miles inside it). Nearby: Clyde Park (on the line), Livingston (6 miles), Big Timber (12 miles) and White Sulphur Springs (19 miles).
Which districts border HD 315?
HD 315 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 317 | Upper Yellowstone East | 66.3% | 379 | 537 |
| HD 390 | Sixteenmile Creek | 9.8% | 162 | 233 |
| HD 393 | East Bridger | 12.6% | 507 | 598 |
| HD 451 | Southeast Big Belt Mountains | 17.3% | 39 | 46 |
| HD 525 | Beartooth-Absaroka | 63.8% | 421 | 1,198 |
| HD 580 | East Slope Crazy Mountains | 22.4% | 802 | 727 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 315 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 315 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 77). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 315?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Clyde Park (on the line), Livingston (6 miles) and Big Timber (12 miles).
Does HD 315 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 9 areas covering 22,678 acres in HD 315: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 5 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Arthun Ranches at 8,746 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 315?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 315 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 315
Those portions of Meagher, Park and Sweet Grass Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at US Highway 89 and the Yellowstone River east of Livingston, then northerly along said highway to Sixteen Mile Creek, then easterly up said creek to the Crazy Mountain Divide, then southerly along said divide to the West Fork of Duck Creek near Fairview Peak, then easterly down the West Fork of Duck Creek to Duck Creek, then southerly down said creek to the Yellowstone River, then westerly up said river to US Highway 89, 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 77.
- 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 317 HD 390 HD 393 HD 451 HD 525 HD 580