Hunting District 321, West Big Hole-Mussigbrod: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 321 (West Big Hole-Mussigbrod) is 62.9% public land, most of it national forest (304,068 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 544 elk and 135 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,217 elk hunters spent 17,444 days here and took 363 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 landNational park (no hunting)Other publicHD 321Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 503,557 acres (787 square miles) |
| Public land | 62.9% (316,916 acres) |
| Block Management | 3 areas, 6,858 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 544 (245 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 135 (85 mule deer, 50 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 | Jackson |
HD 321 is the west side of the Big Hole valley, from Wisdom and Jackson west to the Continental Divide on the Idaho line and north to West Pintler Peak. FWP estimated 544 elk were taken here in 2025, the most of any year since 2020.
How much public land is in HD 321?
62.9% of HD 321 is public land: 316,916 of its 503,557 acres. The largest share is national forest, 304,068 acres or 60.4% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 321 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 304,068 | 60.4% |
| State trust land | 8,030 | 1.6% |
| BLM | 4,818 | 1% |
| National park (no hunting) | 665 | 0.1% |
| Other public | 69 | 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. National park land is closed to hunting.
Block Management in HD 321
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas in HD 321, 6,858 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Sparrow Grazing (3,825 acres, Type 1), Johnson Bros (2,494 acres, Type 2) and Giem Ranch (540 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 321?
FWP estimates 544 elk were harvested in HD 321 in 2025: 245 bulls, 290 cows and 8 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,217 hunters took 363 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 | 544 | 245 | 290 | 8 | 91 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 363 | 132 | 222 | 9 | 55 | 2,217 | 17,444 | 16 |
| 2023 | 412 | 154 | 245 | 13 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 400 | 133 | 257 | 10 | 50 | 1,617 | 10,439 | 25 |
| 2021 | 207 | 80 | 119 | 8 | 19 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 227 | 96 | 124 | 7 | 44 | 1,036 | 6,615 | 22 |
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 321?
FWP estimates 135 deer were harvested in HD 321 in 2025: 85 mule deer and 50 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,088 deer hunters spent 7,254 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 135 | 85 | 50 | 117 | 17 | 60 | 1,088 | 7,254 |
| 2024 | 110 | 65 | 45 | 68 | 43 | 38 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 174 | 93 | 81 | 106 | 68 | 58 | 1,005 | 7,465 |
| 2022 | 94 | 54 | 40 | 58 | 37 | 35 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 71 | 30 | 41 | 51 | 21 | 32 | 502 | 3,264 |
| 2020 | 51 | 29 | 22 | 41 | 10 | 28 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 321 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 321:
| 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: 321-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 321 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 321 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 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | One per hunter. Valid in all Region 3 HDs. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 80, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 321 before you go.
How do you get to HD 321?
Highways through the district: MT 43 (about 25 miles inside it). Towns inside: Jackson.
Which districts border HD 321?
HD 321 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 270 | East Fork Bitterroot | 84.6% | 621 | 395 |
| HD 319 | Fleecer-High Rye | 77.4% | 332 | 166 |
| HD 329 | Big Hole Divide-Horse Prairie | 66.3% | 432 | 228 |
| HD 331 | Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole | 81% | 689 | 576 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 321 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 321 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 80). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 321?
Jackson is inside the district.
Does HD 321 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas covering 6,858 acres in HD 321: 2 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Sparrow Grazing at 3,825 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 321?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 321 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 321
That portion of Beaverhead County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Wisdom and Route 278, then southerly along said route to the Jackson-Skinner Meadows Road, then southerly along said road to the Big Hole-Bloody Dick Divide, then westerly along said divide to the Montana-Idaho border and Continental Divide, then northerly and northeasterly along said divide to the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge County line at West Pintler Peak, then southeasterly along said line to a point on Highway 43 directly opposite the confluence of Pintler Creek with the Big Hole River, then southerly along said route to Route 278 at Wisdom, 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 80.
- 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.