Hunting District 322, Ruby Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 322 (Ruby Mountains) is 25.5% public land, most of it BLM (51,829 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 284 elk and 688 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,844 elk hunters spent 13,839 days here and took 418 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
BLMState trust landFWP landOther publicHD 322Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 291,680 acres (456 square miles) |
| Public land | 25.5% (74,418 acres) |
| Block Management | 3 areas, 11,185 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 284 (136 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 688 (261 mule deer, 427 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 | Twin Bridges, Sheridan, Dillon and Virginia City |
HD 322 is the Ruby and Beaverhead valley country between Dillon, Twin Bridges, Sheridan and Alder. FWP's 2022 and 2023 estimates for HD 322 are several times those of the other years (2,865 elk in 2022, 418 in 2024), and FWP published no 2022 or 2023 elk line for neighboring HDs 323 and 324; compare those two years with care.
How much public land is in HD 322?
25.5% of HD 322 is public land: 74,418 of its 291,680 acres. The largest share is BLM, 51,829 acres or 17.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 322 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 51,829 | 17.8% |
| State trust land | 22,522 | 7.7% |
| Other public | 335 | 0.1% |
| FWP land | 67 | 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 322
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas in HD 322, 11,185 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Sauerbier Ruby Dell Ranch (7,685 acres, Type 1), Ruby Mtn Hay & Grain (2,226 acres, Type 1) and Sauerbier Ruby Dell Ranch (1,274 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 322?
FWP estimates 284 elk were harvested in HD 322 in 2025: 136 bulls, 146 cows and 3 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,844 hunters took 418 elk, about 23 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 | 284 | 136 | 146 | 3 | 49 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 418 | 213 | 197 | 9 | 90 | 1,844 | 13,839 | 23 |
| 2023 | 1,651 | 781 | 835 | 35 | 233 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 2,865 | 1,199 | 1,602 | 64 | 479 | 8,436 | 56,329 | 34 |
| 2021 | 530 | 233 | 278 | 20 | 76 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 250 | 124 | 123 | 4 | 42 | 990 | 5,803 | 25 |
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 322?
FWP estimates 688 deer were harvested in HD 322 in 2025: 261 mule deer and 427 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,599 deer hunters spent 10,598 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 688 | 261 | 427 | 368 | 320 | 223 | 1,599 | 10,598 |
| 2024 | 769 | 338 | 431 | 446 | 319 | 291 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 2,270 | 1,248 | 1,022 | 1,378 | 872 | 819 | 6,176 | 42,243 |
| 2022 | 2,376 | 1,304 | 1,072 | 1,482 | 867 | 929 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 914 | 239 | 675 | 481 | 433 | 351 | 1,354 | 6,729 |
| 2020 | 1,144 | 220 | 925 | 469 | 667 | 325 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 322 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 322:
| 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: 322-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid on private lands only. |
When is deer season in HD 322 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 322 allows mule deer of either sex (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 | 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: 399-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Per hunter license quota set annually. Multi-district license. |
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 322 before you go.
How do you get to HD 322?
Highways through the district: MT 41 (about 20 miles inside it) and MT 287 (about 8 miles inside it). Towns inside: Twin Bridges. Nearby: Sheridan (on the line), Dillon (on the line), Virginia City (7 miles) and Ennis (18 miles).
Which districts border HD 322?
HD 322 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 320 | Tobacco Root Mountains | 47% | 451 | 1,305 |
| HD 323 | Gravelly-Centennial | 73.3% | 748 | 671 |
| HD 324 | Blacktail Mountains | 48.2% | 416 | 573 |
| HD 340 | Highlands | 48.3% | 397 | 604 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 322 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 322 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 322?
Twin Bridges is inside the district. Just outside: Sheridan (on the line), Dillon (on the line) and Virginia City (7 miles).
Does HD 322 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas covering 11,185 acres in HD 322: 2 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Sauerbier Ruby Dell Ranch at 7,685 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 322?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 322 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 322
Those portions of Beaverhead and Madison counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Junction of Route 41 and Overland Road north of Dillon, then southwesterly along Overland Road to Oliver Lane, then southerly along Oliver Lane to the Sweetwater Road, then easterly along the Sweetwater Road to the Ruby River Road, then northerly along the Ruby River Road to Montana Highway 287 at Alder, then northwesterly along Montana Highway 287 to Route 41 at Twin Bridges, then southwesterly along Route 41 to Overland Road, 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.