Hunting District 329, Big Hole Divide-Horse Prairie: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 329 (Big Hole Divide-Horse Prairie) is 66.3% public land, the largest part national forest (161,449 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 432 elk and 228 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,912 elk hunters spent 14,822 days here and took 410 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 329Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 505,668 acres (790 square miles) |
| Public land | 66.3% (335,129 acres) |
| Block Management | 4 areas, 17,286 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 432 (234 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 228 (192 mule deer, 35 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 | Grant and Dillon |
HD 329 is the Horse Prairie and Big Hole Divide country west of Dillon, from MT 324 and Bannock Pass north to MT 278 near Jackson. FWP estimated 432 elk were taken here in 2025. Grant is the only town inside.
How much public land is in HD 329?
66.3% of HD 329 is public land: 335,129 of its 505,668 acres. The largest share is national forest, 161,449 acres or 31.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 329 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 161,449 | 31.9% |
| BLM | 132,221 | 26.1% |
| State trust land | 37,919 | 7.5% |
| FWP land | 2,279 | 0.5% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 1,261 | 0.2% |
| Other public | 32 | 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 329
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas in HD 329, 17,286 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Harrington Company (8,198 acres, Type 2), Dragging Y Cattle (6,732 acres, Type 1), Bar Double T Bma (2,035 acres, Type 1) and Tash T Diamond (321 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 329?
FWP estimates 432 elk were harvested in HD 329 in 2025: 234 bulls, 180 cows and 18 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,912 hunters took 410 elk, about 21 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 | 432 | 234 | 180 | 18 | 90 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 410 | 201 | 206 | 3 | 84 | 1,912 | 14,822 | 21 |
| 2023 | 371 | 188 | 173 | 9 | 58 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 551 | 227 | 299 | 26 | 103 | 1,970 | 12,303 | 28 |
| 2021 | 411 | 176 | 208 | 27 | 67 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 492 | 191 | 270 | 31 | 70 | 1,956 | 12,473 | 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 329?
FWP estimates 228 deer were harvested in HD 329 in 2025: 192 mule deer and 35 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,184 deer hunters spent 7,279 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 228 | 192 | 35 | 160 | 61 | 58 | 1,184 | 7,279 |
| 2024 | 200 | 160 | 40 | 139 | 61 | 58 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 205 | 136 | 68 | 122 | 80 | 68 | 1,025 | 6,414 |
| 2022 | 154 | 116 | 38 | 89 | 65 | 45 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 147 | 123 | 24 | 96 | 51 | 34 | 839 | 5,236 |
| 2020 | 217 | 156 | 61 | 121 | 93 | 51 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 329 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 329:
| 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: 399-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Multi-district license. |
When is deer season in HD 329 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 329 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. |
| 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. Valid in HDs 302, 303, 320, 322, 323, 324, 329, 331, 340, and 360. |
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 329 before you go.
How do you get to HD 329?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 17 miles inside it). Towns inside: Grant. Nearby: Dillon (4 miles).
Which districts border HD 329?
HD 329 touches 4 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 321 | West Big Hole-Mussigbrod | 62.9% | 544 | 135 |
| HD 324 | Blacktail Mountains | 48.2% | 416 | 573 |
| HD 331 | Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole | 81% | 689 | 576 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 329 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 329 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 329?
Grant is inside the district. Just outside: Dillon (4 miles).
Does HD 329 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas covering 17,286 acres in HD 329: 2 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Harrington Company at 8,198 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 329?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 329 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 329
That portion of Beaverhead County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Route 324 and Interstate 15, then westerly along Route 324 to the Montana-Idaho border at Bannock Pass, then northerly along said border to the Bloody Dick-Big Hole Divide, then easterly along said divide to the Skinner Meadows-Jackson Road, then northerly along said road to Route 278 near Jackson, then easterly along said route to Interstate 15, then southerly along said interstate to Route 324, 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 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.