Hunting District 319, Fleecer-High Rye: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 319 (Fleecer-High Rye) is 77.4% public land, most of it national forest (214,345 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 332 elk and 166 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,064 elk hunters spent 18,429 days here and took 351 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 319Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 396,943 acres (620 square miles) |
| Public land | 77.4% (307,368 acres) |
| Block Management | 5 areas, 13,117 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 332 (182 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 166 (89 mule deer, 77 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Wise River, Butte, Anaconda and Walkerville |
HD 319 is the Fleecer Mountains and the north side of the Big Hole River between Butte, Anaconda and Wise River, west to the Continental Divide. Mount Haggin WMA has 59,404 acres in it, which is why FWP land is 16.4% of the district. A mule deer buck takes permit 319-50.
How much public land is in HD 319?
77.4% of HD 319 is public land: 307,368 of its 396,943 acres. The largest share is national forest, 214,345 acres or 54% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 319 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 214,345 | 54% |
| FWP land | 65,175 | 16.4% |
| BLM | 21,245 | 5.4% |
| State trust land | 6,603 | 1.7% |
| Other public | 2,984 | 0.8% |
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 319
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas in HD 319, 13,117 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Fleecer Cattle Co (5,047 acres, Type 2), Christiansen Ranch (2,983 acres, Type 2), Willow Glen Ranch (2,609 acres, Type 1), Peterson Ranch (1,847 acres, Type 1) and Sparrow Grazing (632 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 319: Mount Haggin WMA (59,404 acres here) and Fleecer Mountain WMA (7,591 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 319?
FWP estimates 332 elk were harvested in HD 319 in 2025: 182 bulls, 150 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,064 hunters took 351 elk, about 17 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 | 332 | 182 | 150 | 0 | 56 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 351 | 202 | 146 | 3 | 46 | 2,064 | 18,429 | 17 |
| 2023 | 271 | 163 | 108 | 0 | 43 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 390 | 245 | 130 | 14 | 103 | 1,937 | 16,523 | 20 |
| 2021 | 211 | 136 | 75 | 0 | 27 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 253 | 150 | 96 | 7 | 47 | 1,460 | 12,285 | 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 319?
FWP estimates 166 deer were harvested in HD 319 in 2025: 89 mule deer and 77 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 772 deer hunters spent 5,960 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 166 | 89 | 77 | 98 | 68 | 50 | 772 | 5,960 |
| 2024 | 152 | 94 | 58 | 114 | 38 | 60 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 122 | 67 | 56 | 70 | 52 | 40 | 694 | 5,272 |
| 2022 | 130 | 106 | 24 | 84 | 46 | 54 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 76 | 57 | 19 | 52 | 24 | 24 | 379 | 2,971 |
| 2020 | 97 | 66 | 31 | 72 | 25 | 34 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 319 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 319:
| 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 8 | ||||
| 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 | Nov 9-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 319-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 319 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 319 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29). A mule deer buck in HD 319 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 319-50, quota 125, apply by April 1.
| 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 | |||
| 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: 319-01 | 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 Permit: 319-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 125 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | One per hunter. 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, page 79, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 319 before you go.
How do you get to HD 319?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 29 miles inside it), MT 43 (about 10 miles inside it), MT 1 (about 9 miles inside it) and I-90 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Wise River. Nearby: Butte (on the line), Anaconda (2 miles), Walkerville (5 miles) and Philipsburg (19 miles).
Which districts border HD 319?
HD 319 touches 8 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 211 | Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake | 82.2% | 100 | 103 |
| HD 213 | East Flint Range | 46.2% | 325 | 337 |
| HD 214 | Mill Creek-Storm Lake | 54.1% | 25 | 73 |
| HD 215 | East Deer Lodge | 49.4% | 346 | 286 |
| HD 270 | East Fork Bitterroot | 84.6% | 621 | 395 |
| HD 321 | West Big Hole-Mussigbrod | 62.9% | 544 | 135 |
| HD 331 | Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole | 81% | 689 | 576 |
| HD 340 | Highlands | 48.3% | 397 | 604 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 319 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls in HD 319 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 79). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 319?
Wise River is inside the district. Just outside: Butte (on the line), Anaconda (2 miles) and Walkerville (5 miles).
Does HD 319 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas covering 13,117 acres in HD 319: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Fleecer Cattle Co at 5,047 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 319?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 319 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 319
Those portions of Silver Bow and Deer Lodge Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Interstate 15 and Route 43, then westerly along said route to a point directly opposite the confluence of Pintlar Creek with the Big Hole River (Deer Lodge-Beaverhead County line), northwesterly along the Deer Lodge-Beaverhead County line to the Continental Divide at West Pintlar Peak then northeasterly along the Continental Divide to Route 274, then northerly along said route to Route 1, then easterly along said route to Interstate 90, then easterly along said interstate to Interstate 15, then southerly along said interstate to its junction with Route 43, 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 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.
Montana hunting Region 3 HD 211 HD 213 HD 214 HD 215 HD 270 HD 321 HD 331 HD 340