Hunting District 324, Blacktail Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 324 (Blacktail Mountains) is 48.2% public land, most of it BLM (111,920 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 416 elk and 573 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,475 elk hunters spent 16,754 days here and took 614 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 324Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 331,149 acres (517 square miles) |
| Public land | 48.2% (159,501 acres) |
| Block Management | 3 areas, 21,975 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 416 (232 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 573 (274 mule deer, 299 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 | Dillon and Lima |
HD 324 is the Blacktail Mountains south and east of Dillon. It has no national forest: its public land is BLM (111,920 acres) and state trust land (47,003 acres).
How much public land is in HD 324?
48.2% of HD 324 is public land: 159,501 of its 331,149 acres. The largest share is BLM, 111,920 acres or 33.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 324 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 111,920 | 33.8% |
| State trust land | 47,003 | 14.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 480 | 0.1% |
| Other public | 343 | 0.1% |
| FWP land | 98 | 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 324
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas in HD 324, 21,975 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Matador Cattle Co (13,823 acres, Type 1), Sauerbier Ruby Dell Ranch (7,028 acres, Type 1) and Maurer Creek (1,125 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 324?
FWP estimates 416 elk were harvested in HD 324 in 2025: 232 bulls, 185 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,475 hunters took 614 elk, about 25 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 | 416 | 232 | 185 | 0 | 75 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 614 | 252 | 339 | 24 | 70 | 2,475 | 16,754 | 25 |
| 2021 | 475 | 223 | 233 | 18 | 72 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 400 | 204 | 189 | 7 | 74 | 1,488 | 10,868 | 27 |
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 324?
FWP estimates 573 deer were harvested in HD 324 in 2025: 274 mule deer and 299 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,535 deer hunters spent 9,522 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 573 | 274 | 299 | 361 | 213 | 229 | 1,535 | 9,522 |
| 2024 | 570 | 295 | 275 | 335 | 235 | 203 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 130 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 50 | 67 | 532 | 3,545 |
| 2020 | 101 | 43 | 58 | 46 | 48 | 43 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 324 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 324:
| 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: 324-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid on private land only. |
When is deer season in HD 324 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 324 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. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 81, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 324 before you go.
How do you get to HD 324?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 18 miles inside it) and MT 41 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Dillon. Nearby: Lima (7 miles).
Which districts border HD 324?
HD 324 touches 6 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 322 | Ruby Mountains | 25.5% | 284 | 688 |
| HD 323 | Gravelly-Centennial | 73.3% | 748 | 671 |
| HD 329 | Big Hole Divide-Horse Prairie | 66.3% | 432 | 228 |
| 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 324 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 324 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 81). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 324?
Dillon is inside the district. Just outside: Lima (7 miles).
Does HD 324 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas covering 21,975 acres in HD 324: all 3 are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Matador Cattle Co at 13,823 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 324?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 324 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 81.
- 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.