Hunting District 339, Sieben-Sleeping Giant: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 339 (Sieben-Sleeping Giant) is 28.6% public land, the largest part BLM (24,463 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 176 elk and 202 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,020 elk hunters spent 7,741 days here and took 194 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 339Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 188,147 acres (294 square miles) |
| Public land | 28.6% (53,902 acres) |
| Block Management | 5 areas, 76,938 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 176 (78 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 202 (132 mule deer, 69 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Spike bulls or antlerless elk and spike bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Helena and East Helena |
HD 339 lies along I-15 and the Missouri River north of Helena, from Hauser Dam northwest to Wolf Creek and west to the Continental Divide at Flesher Pass. The General Elk License covers spike bulls, and antlerless elk too from November 16; an either-sex elk takes permit 339-20. Canyon Creek WMA has 2,386 acres here.
How much public land is in HD 339?
28.6% of HD 339 is public land: 53,902 of its 188,147 acres. The largest share is BLM, 24,463 acres or 13% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 339 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 24,463 | 13% |
| State trust land | 20,052 | 10.7% |
| National forest | 6,964 | 3.7% |
| FWP land | 2,423 | 1.3% |
| Other public | 5 | 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 339
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas in HD 339, 76,938 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Sieben Ranch (59,353 acres, Type 1), Chevallier Ranch (11,708 acres, Type 1), Lyons Creek Ranch (2,516 acres, Type 2), Grady Ranch (2,095 acres, Type 1) and Gehring Ranch (1,266 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 339: Canyon Creek WMA (2,386 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 339?
FWP estimates 176 elk were harvested in HD 339 in 2025: 78 bulls, 92 cows and 6 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,020 hunters took 194 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 | 176 | 78 | 92 | 6 | 26 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 194 | 52 | 127 | 15 | 19 | 1,020 | 7,741 | 19 |
| 2023 | 124 | 49 | 72 | 3 | 16 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 177 | 81 | 96 | 0 | 21 | 817 | 5,683 | 22 |
| 2021 | 77 | 37 | 40 | 0 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 85 | 34 | 45 | 7 | 16 | 733 | 5,077 | 12 |
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 339?
FWP estimates 202 deer were harvested in HD 339 in 2025: 132 mule deer and 69 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 870 deer hunters spent 5,989 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 202 | 132 | 69 | 179 | 23 | 95 | 870 | 5,989 |
| 2024 | 178 | 121 | 57 | 145 | 33 | 65 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 168 | 111 | 57 | 137 | 29 | 77 | 653 | 4,192 |
| 2022 | 180 | 110 | 70 | 138 | 43 | 72 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 156 | 105 | 50 | 127 | 29 | 71 | 633 | 4,031 |
| 2020 | 151 | 118 | 33 | 118 | 33 | 51 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 339 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 339:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Nov 16-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Elk License | Spike Bull Elk | Oct 24-Nov 15 | |||||
| General Elk License | Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk | 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. | |||
| Elk B License: 396-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 600 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid in HDs 339 and 343. |
| Elk Permit: 339-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 40 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
When is deer season in HD 339 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 339 allows mule deer bucks (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 | |||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | 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: 396-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. Also valid in HD 343. |
FWP's notes for HD 339: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Gates of the Mountains Game Preserve; Canyon Creek WMA closed Dec 02 - May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 82 to 83, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 339 before you go.
How do you get to HD 339?
Highways through the district: US 287 (about 46 miles inside it) and I-15 (about 46 miles inside it). Nearby: Helena (8 miles) and East Helena (11 miles).
Which districts border HD 339?
HD 339 touches 7 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 293 | South Lincoln-Nevada Creek | 56.1% | 231 | 242 |
| HD 343 | Helena-North | 52.8% | 165 | 241 |
| HD 388 | Tenmile-Prickly Pear Valley | 8.8% | 31 | 233 |
| HD 392 | Avalanche-Gates of the Mountains | 91.1% | 94 | 341 |
| HD 421 | Birdtail Hills-South Dearborn | 11.4% | 184 | 800 |
| HD 445 | Hound Creek | 12% | 521 | 879 |
| HD 455 | Beartooth WMA | 99.6% | 124 | 35 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 339 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows spike bulls or antlerless elk and spike bulls in HD 339 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 82). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 339?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Helena (8 miles) and East Helena (11 miles).
Does HD 339 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas covering 76,938 acres in HD 339: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Sieben Ranch at 59,353 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 339?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 339 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 339
That portion of Lewis and Clark county lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the bridge over Rock Creek on Interstate 15, (approximately three miles northeast of Wolf Creek), then southeasterly along Rock Creek approximately one mile to its confluence with the Missouri River, then southerly up the west bank of the Missouri River to Hauser Dam, then southerly along Hauser Dam Road to its junction with Country Side Road, then westerly along said road to its junction with Mountain Meadows Road, then westerly along said road to where it becomes Snowdrift Road, then west along said road to its junction with Collins Drive, then north along Collins Drive to the north boundary of Section 4, T11N, R3W, then west along the north boundary of Section 4 and Section 5 to Interstate 15, then northerly along said Interstate approximately two miles to the north boundary of Section 31, T12N, R3W, at the north of the split median of Interstate 15, then following the north boundary of Section 31 westerly to the northeast corner of Section 36, T12N, R4W, then southerly along the east boundary of Section 36, then west along the south boundary of Section 36 to Green Meadow Drive, then south along Green Meadow Drive to its junction with Woodland Hills Road, then west on Woodland Hills Road to its junction with Lone Mountain Road, then south along Lone Mountain Road to Highway 279 (Lincoln Road West), then westerly and northerly along said route to Flesher Pass, then northwesterly along the Continental Divide to the North Fork Lyons Creek, then southeasterly down said creek to Interstate 15, then north along said interstate to Rock Creek Bridge, 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 82 to 83.
- 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.
Montana hunting Region 3 HD 293 HD 343 HD 392 HD 421 HD 445 HD 455