Hunting District 323, Gravelly-Centennial: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 323 (Gravelly-Centennial) is 73.3% public land, the largest part national forest (468,894 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 748 elk and 671 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 5,015 elk hunters spent 37,244 days here and took 1,013 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 323Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,322,016 acres (2,066 square miles) |
| Public land | 73.3% (968,958 acres) |
| Block Management | 10 areas, 74,783 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 748 (458 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 671 (400 mule deer, 271 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk (not on Wall Creek WMA and adjacent lands as posted) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Ennis, Lima, Alder, Virginia City, Sheridan and Dillon |
HD 323, Gravelly-Centennial, takes in the Gravelly Range, the Centennial Valley and country south toward Lima. In 2024 FWP counted more elk hunters here than in any other Montana district: 5,015. Three FWP wildlife management areas lie inside it, Robb-Ledford, Blacktail and Wall Creek, and FWP notes all three are closed December 2 to May 15.
How much public land is in HD 323?
73.3% of HD 323 is public land: 968,958 of its 1,322,016 acres. The largest share is national forest, 468,894 acres or 35.5% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 323 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 468,894 | 35.5% |
| BLM | 227,436 | 17.2% |
| State trust land | 193,426 | 14.6% |
| National wildlife refuge | 43,544 | 3.3% |
| FWP land | 35,658 | 2.7% |
| Other public | 15,952 | 1.2% |
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 323
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 10 areas in HD 323, 74,783 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Matador Cattle Co (29,589 acres, Type 1), Udsa-Ars (11,784 acres, Type 2), Martinell Company (8,246 acres, Type 1), Sauerbier Ruby Dell Ranch (7,981 acres, Type 1) and Three Dollar Ranch (7,560 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 323: Robb-Ledford WMA (28,236 acres here), Blacktail WMA (17,964 acres here) and Wall Creek WMA (7,675 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 323?
FWP estimates 748 elk were harvested in HD 323 in 2025: 458 bulls, 272 cows and 18 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 5,015 hunters took 1,013 elk, about 20 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 | 748 | 458 | 272 | 18 | 179 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 1,013 | 520 | 483 | 11 | 184 | 5,015 | 37,244 | 20 |
| 2021 | 240 | 165 | 67 | 8 | 71 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 210 | 116 | 95 | 0 | 62 | 1,003 | 6,957 | 21 |
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 323?
FWP estimates 671 deer were harvested in HD 323 in 2025: 400 mule deer and 271 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,639 deer hunters spent 17,036 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 671 | 400 | 271 | 458 | 210 | 248 | 2,639 | 17,036 |
| 2024 | 717 | 474 | 243 | 445 | 273 | 256 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 78 | 56 | 22 | 67 | 11 | 34 | 461 | 3,090 |
| 2020 | 72 | 55 | 16 | 58 | 14 | 23 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 323 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 323:
| 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 | Not valid on Wall Creek WMA and adjacent lands as posted. | ||
| 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. Not valid on Wall Creek WMA and adjacent lands as posted. | ||
| Elk B License: 399-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Multi-district license. Valid on Wall Crk WMA and adjacent land as posted. |
When is deer season in HD 323 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 323 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 | 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 license quota set annually. Multi-district license. |
FWP's notes for HD 323: Wall Creek WMA, Rob Ledford WMA, Blacktail WMA are closed Dec 02 - May 15.
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 323 before you go.
How do you get to HD 323?
Highways through the district: MT 287 (about 23 miles inside it), MT 87 (about 2 miles inside it) and I-15 (about 2 miles inside it). Towns inside: Ennis, Lima, Alder, Lakeview and Dell. Nearby: Virginia City (on the line), Sheridan (10 miles), Dillon (17 miles) and West Yellowstone (18 miles).
Which districts border HD 323?
HD 323 touches 7 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 302 | Tendoys | 75.8% | 235 | 273 |
| HD 303 | Lima Peaks-Nicholia | 73.9% | 271 | 75 |
| HD 320 | Tobacco Root Mountains | 47% | 451 | 1,305 |
| HD 322 | Ruby Mountains | 25.5% | 284 | 688 |
| HD 324 | Blacktail Mountains | 48.2% | 416 | 573 |
| HD 360 | Madison Range | 54.6% | 629 | 483 |
| HD 361 | Hebgen-Upper Madison | 80% | 79 | 44 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 323 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk (not on Wall Creek WMA and adjacent lands as posted) in HD 323 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 323?
Ennis, Lima and Alder are inside the district. Just outside: Virginia City (on the line), Sheridan (10 miles) and Dillon (17 miles).
Does HD 323 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 10 areas covering 74,783 acres in HD 323: 6 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 4 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Matador Cattle Co at 29,589 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 323?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 323 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
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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.