Hunting District 331, Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 331 (Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole) is 81% public land, most of it national forest (574,332 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 689 elk and 576 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 3,111 elk hunters spent 25,077 days here and took 597 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 landOther publicHD 331Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 871,114 acres (1,361 square miles) |
| Public land | 81% (705,438 acres) |
| Block Management | 6 areas, 11,857 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 689 (384 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 576 (415 mule deer, 161 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Maverick Mountain, Wisdom, Argenta, Dillon, Butte and Anaconda |
HD 331 is the Pioneer Mountains and the east side of the Big Hole. FWP's legal description draws it inside the loop of MT 278, MT 43 and I-15 between Dillon, Wisdom and Divide.
How much public land is in HD 331?
81% of HD 331 is public land: 705,438 of its 871,114 acres. The largest share is national forest, 574,332 acres or 65.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 331 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 574,332 | 65.9% |
| BLM | 88,808 | 10.2% |
| State trust land | 41,672 | 4.8% |
| Other public | 994 | 0.1% |
| FWP land | 626 | 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 331
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas in HD 331, 11,857 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Giem Ranch (3,768 acres, Type 1), Christiansen Ranch (2,975 acres, Type 2), Harrington Company (2,920 acres, Type 2), Grasshopper Herding Association (1,272 acres, Type 1) and Moose Creek (841 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 331?
FWP estimates 689 elk were harvested in HD 331 in 2025: 384 bulls, 285 cows and 20 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 3,111 hunters took 597 elk, about 19 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 | 689 | 384 | 285 | 20 | 104 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 597 | 349 | 239 | 9 | 144 | 3,111 | 25,077 | 19 |
| 2023 | 353 | 202 | 135 | 16 | 72 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 583 | 327 | 241 | 15 | 125 | 2,782 | 19,867 | 21 |
| 2021 | 207 | 114 | 85 | 7 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 277 | 124 | 143 | 10 | 44 | 1,836 | 13,141 | 15 |
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 331?
FWP estimates 576 deer were harvested in HD 331 in 2025: 415 mule deer and 161 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,606 deer hunters spent 20,916 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 576 | 415 | 161 | 369 | 198 | 166 | 2,606 | 20,916 |
| 2024 | 677 | 481 | 196 | 451 | 214 | 245 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 463 | 310 | 153 | 321 | 138 | 145 | 2,009 | 14,147 |
| 2022 | 515 | 345 | 170 | 323 | 186 | 155 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 433 | 297 | 135 | 281 | 152 | 125 | 1,485 | 10,368 |
| 2020 | 589 | 380 | 209 | 398 | 191 | 171 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 331 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 331:
| 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 | |||||
| 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. Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. | ||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. | |||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 331-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 331 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 331 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: 331-01 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| 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. Valid in HDs 302, 303, 320, 322, 323, 324, 329, 331, 340, and 360. |
FWP's notes for HD 331: HD 331 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Poindexter Slough FAS south of Dillon, restricted to ArchEquip, shotgun, traditional handgun, muzzleloader, or crossbow only.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 81 to 82, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 331 before you go.
How do you get to HD 331?
Highways through the district: MT 43 (about 41 miles inside it) and I-15 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Maverick Mountain, Wisdom, Argenta and Dewey. Nearby: Dillon (on the line), Butte (10 miles), Anaconda (14 miles) and Twin Bridges (16 miles).
Which districts border HD 331?
HD 331 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 319 | Fleecer-High Rye | 77.4% | 332 | 166 |
| HD 321 | West Big Hole-Mussigbrod | 62.9% | 544 | 135 |
| HD 324 | Blacktail Mountains | 48.2% | 416 | 573 |
| HD 329 | Big Hole Divide-Horse Prairie | 66.3% | 432 | 228 |
| HD 340 | Highlands | 48.3% | 397 | 604 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 331 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 331 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 331?
Maverick Mountain, Wisdom and Argenta are inside the district. Just outside: Dillon (on the line), Butte (10 miles) and Anaconda (14 miles).
Does HD 331 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 6 areas covering 11,857 acres in HD 331: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 3 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Giem Ranch at 3,768 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 331?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 331 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 331
Those portions of Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Silverbow and Madison County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Route 278 and Interstate 15, then westerly and north for the length of Route 278 to Junction of Route 278 and Route 43 in Wisdom, MT. Continuing north and easterly along Route 43 to Interstate 15 at Divide, then south along said interstate to Route 278, 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, pages 81 to 82.
- 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.