Hunting District 318, Butte-Basin: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 318 (Butte-Basin) is 81.5% public land, most of it national forest (130,380 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 210 elk and 99 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,214 elk hunters spent 11,454 days here and took 190 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 landOther publicHD 318Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 172,815 acres (270 square miles) |
| Public land | 81.5% (140,791 acres) |
| Block Management | 4 areas, 9,593 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 210 (115 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 99 (78 mule deer, 21 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Basin, Boulder, Walkerville and Deer Lodge |
HD 318 is the upper Boulder River country along I-15 between Elk Park Pass and Boulder, around Basin. Interstate 15 runs about 50 miles inside it, and national forest is 75.4%.
How much public land is in HD 318?
81.5% of HD 318 is public land: 140,791 of its 172,815 acres. The largest share is national forest, 130,380 acres or 75.4% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 318 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 130,380 | 75.4% |
| BLM | 9,960 | 5.8% |
| State trust land | 451 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 335 | 0.2% |
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 318
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas in HD 318, 9,593 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Skytop Ranch (3,931 acres, Type 1), Carlson Ranch (2,668 acres, Type 1), Kountz Ranch (2,286 acres, Type 2) and Lockhart Meadows (708 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 318?
FWP estimates 210 elk were harvested in HD 318 in 2025: 115 bulls, 95 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,214 hunters took 190 elk, about 16 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 | 210 | 115 | 95 | 0 | 36 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 190 | 91 | 94 | 6 | 20 | 1,214 | 11,454 | 16 |
| 2023 | 135 | 78 | 54 | 3 | 24 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 129 | 87 | 36 | 6 | 38 | 1,204 | 10,706 | 11 |
| 2021 | 138 | 88 | 49 | 0 | 26 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 169 | 84 | 81 | 4 | 27 | 1,264 | 11,118 | 13 |
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 318?
FWP estimates 99 deer were harvested in HD 318 in 2025: 78 mule deer and 21 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 696 deer hunters spent 7,052 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99 | 78 | 21 | 85 | 14 | 24 | 696 | 7,052 |
| 2024 | 162 | 151 | 12 | 137 | 26 | 27 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 120 | 101 | 20 | 97 | 20 | 17 | 654 | 4,896 |
| 2022 | 112 | 93 | 20 | 99 | 13 | 30 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 112 | 91 | 21 | 101 | 11 | 37 | 597 | 5,217 |
| 2020 | 100 | 90 | 10 | 74 | 26 | 10 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 318 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 318:
| 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 | |||||
| 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. Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. | ||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 394-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 400 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid in HDs 318 and 335. |
When is deer season in HD 318 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 318 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: 318-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 78 to 79, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 318 before you go.
How do you get to HD 318?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 50 miles inside it). Towns inside: Basin. Nearby: Boulder (on the line), Walkerville (3 miles), Deer Lodge (10 miles) and Butte (13 miles).
Which districts border HD 318?
HD 318 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 215 | East Deer Lodge | 49.4% | 346 | 286 |
| HD 335 | Helena-South | 54.4% | 227 | 330 |
| HD 350 | Whitetail-Bull Mountains | 82.5% | 93 | 183 |
| HD 380 | Radersburg | 42.1% | 419 | 723 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 318 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 318 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 78). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 318?
Basin is inside the district. Just outside: Boulder (on the line), Walkerville (3 miles) and Deer Lodge (10 miles).
Does HD 318 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas covering 9,593 acres in HD 318: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Skytop Ranch at 3,931 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 318?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 318 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 318
Those portions of Jefferson County lying within the following -described boundary: Beginning at the junction of the Jefferson County line and Interstate 15 at Elk Park Pass, then northeasterly along said interstate to the Boulder-Prickly Pear Divide north of Boulder, then westerly along said divide to the Boulder River-Ten Mile Creek Divide, then westerly along said divide to the Jefferson County Line, then southwesterly along said county line to Interstate 15, 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 78 to 79.
- 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.