Hunting District 320, Tobacco Root Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 320 (Tobacco Root Mountains) is 47% public land, most of it national forest (175,544 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 451 elk and 1,305 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,286 elk hunters spent 16,710 days here and took 379 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 320Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 513,844 acres (803 square miles) |
| Public land | 47% (241,612 acres) |
| Block Management | 9 areas, 8,476 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 451 (318 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,305 (396 mule deer, 909 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 | Sheridan, Virginia City, Whitehall, Twin Bridges, Ennis and Three Forks |
HD 320 is the southern Tobacco Root Mountains. FWP's legal description rings it with MT 287 from Ennis to Twin Bridges, MT 41, MT 55, I-90 at Whitehall and Cardwell, and US 287 back to Ennis.
How much public land is in HD 320?
47% of HD 320 is public land: 241,612 of its 513,844 acres. The largest share is national forest, 175,544 acres or 34.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 320 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 175,544 | 34.2% |
| BLM | 43,229 | 8.4% |
| State trust land | 22,696 | 4.4% |
| Other public | 1,481 | 0.3% |
| FWP land | 143 | 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 320
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 9 areas in HD 320, 8,476 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Lazy U Cross (2,705 acres, Type 1), Kountz Ranch (2,648 acres, Type 2), Braach Ranch (1,134 acres, Type 2), Barrick Golden Sunlight (506 acres, Type 1) and Alaska Ranch (492 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 320?
FWP estimates 451 elk were harvested in HD 320 in 2025: 318 bulls, 127 cows and 6 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,286 hunters took 379 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 | 451 | 318 | 127 | 6 | 178 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 379 | 196 | 168 | 15 | 85 | 2,286 | 16,710 | 17 |
| 2023 | 407 | 243 | 158 | 6 | 93 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 589 | 335 | 249 | 5 | 135 | 2,297 | 15,034 | 26 |
| 2021 | 279 | 163 | 108 | 8 | 44 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 207 | 119 | 81 | 7 | 27 | 1,052 | 7,469 | 20 |
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 320?
FWP estimates 1,305 deer were harvested in HD 320 in 2025: 396 mule deer and 909 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,611 deer hunters spent 16,728 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,305 | 396 | 909 | 700 | 587 | 427 | 2,611 | 16,728 |
| 2024 | 1,378 | 381 | 997 | 793 | 575 | 498 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,222 | 393 | 829 | 686 | 509 | 454 | 2,647 | 17,361 |
| 2022 | 1,355 | 434 | 921 | 787 | 549 | 497 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 815 | 263 | 552 | 456 | 359 | 335 | 1,490 | 8,870 |
| 2020 | 831 | 208 | 623 | 447 | 381 | 282 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 320 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 320:
| 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. | ||
| Elk B License: 320-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Not valid on National Forest Lands. |
When is deer season in HD 320 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 320 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule 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 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 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| Deer B License: 003-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | 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: 399-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Per hunter quota set annually. Multi-district license. |
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 320 before you go.
How do you get to HD 320?
Highways through the district: MT 287 (about 11 miles inside it), MT 55 (about 11 miles inside it), US 287 (about 10 miles inside it), I-90 (about 6 miles inside it) and MT 2 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Sheridan, Virginia City, Whitehall, Cardwell, Pony and Brandon. Nearby: Twin Bridges (on the line), Ennis (on the line) and Three Forks (17 miles).
Which districts border HD 320?
HD 320 touches 9 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 311 | Lower Madison | 13.4% | 198 | 948 |
| HD 322 | Ruby Mountains | 25.5% | 284 | 688 |
| HD 323 | Gravelly-Centennial | 73.3% | 748 | 671 |
| HD 340 | Highlands | 48.3% | 397 | 604 |
| HD 350 | Whitetail-Bull Mountains | 82.5% | 93 | 183 |
| HD 360 | Madison Range | 54.6% | 629 | 483 |
| HD 370 | Bull Mountains | 37.1% | 103 | 95 |
| HD 380 | Radersburg | 42.1% | 419 | 723 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 320 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 320 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 320?
Sheridan, Virginia City and Whitehall are inside the district. Just outside: Twin Bridges (on the line), Ennis (on the line) and Three Forks (17 miles).
Does HD 320 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 9 areas covering 8,476 acres in HD 320: 6 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 3 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Lazy U Cross at 2,705 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 320?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 320 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 320
Those portions of Madison and Jefferson Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Montana Highway 287 and U.S. Highway 287 at Ennis, then northwesterly along Montana Highway 287 to its intersection with Route 41 at Twin Bridges, then northerly along Route 41 to its intersection with Route 55, then northeasterly along Route 55 to its intersection with Interstate 90 at Whitehall, then easterly along Interstate 90 to the intersection with Route 359 at Cardwell, then southeasterly along route 359 to its intersection with the South Boulder Road, then southwesterly along the South Boulder Road to its intersection with the Carmichael Road, then easterly along the Carmichael Road to Adkins Lane, then easterly along Adkins Lane to its intersection with the Pony Road, then northeasterly along the Pony Road to its intersection with U. S. Highway 287, then southernly along U. S. Highway 287 to its intersection with Montana Highway 287 at Ennis, 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.