Hunting District 340, Highlands: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 340 (Highlands) is 48.3% public land, the largest part BLM (124,702 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 397 elk and 604 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,068 elk hunters spent 16,427 days here and took 387 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 340Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 544,659 acres (851 square miles) |
| Public land | 48.3% (263,156 acres) |
| Block Management | 5 areas, 30,078 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 397 (172 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 604 (273 mule deer, 331 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Butte, Rader Creek, Silver Star, Twin Bridges, Whitehall and Dillon |
HD 340 is the Highland Mountains and Jefferson River country inside the loop of I-15, I-90 and MT 41 and 55, between Butte, Whitehall, Twin Bridges and Dillon. Interstate 15 runs about 92 miles inside it.
How much public land is in HD 340?
48.3% of HD 340 is public land: 263,156 of its 544,659 acres. The largest share is BLM, 124,702 acres or 22.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 340 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 124,702 | 22.9% |
| National forest | 101,348 | 18.6% |
| State trust land | 36,983 | 6.8% |
| Other public | 2,863 | 0.5% |
| FWP land | 123 | 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 340
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas in HD 340, 30,078 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Mccartney Mountain (11,751 acres, Type 1), Kountz Ranch (9,535 acres, Type 2), Smith 6 S Livestock (4,616 acres, Type 1), Broom Tree (2,579 acres, Type 1) and Moose Creek (1,598 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 340?
FWP estimates 397 elk were harvested in HD 340 in 2025: 172 bulls, 208 cows and 17 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,068 hunters took 387 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 | 397 | 172 | 208 | 17 | 47 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 387 | 178 | 200 | 9 | 35 | 2,068 | 16,427 | 19 |
| 2023 | 310 | 181 | 127 | 2 | 61 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 327 | 169 | 153 | 6 | 47 | 1,922 | 14,720 | 17 |
| 2021 | 319 | 136 | 176 | 6 | 36 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 380 | 193 | 172 | 15 | 56 | 2,419 | 19,040 | 16 |
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 340?
FWP estimates 604 deer were harvested in HD 340 in 2025: 273 mule deer and 331 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,922 deer hunters spent 12,825 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 604 | 273 | 331 | 374 | 229 | 239 | 1,922 | 12,825 |
| 2024 | 681 | 307 | 374 | 443 | 238 | 297 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 645 | 221 | 424 | 421 | 224 | 263 | 1,963 | 12,717 |
| 2022 | 586 | 187 | 399 | 364 | 214 | 239 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 798 | 355 | 444 | 472 | 327 | 284 | 2,067 | 13,242 |
| 2020 | 1,039 | 403 | 636 | 509 | 527 | 315 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 340 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 340:
| 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 8 | ||||
| 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 | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Nov 9-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 340-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 400 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 340 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 340 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 | 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: 340-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| 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. Multi-district license. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 83, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 340 before you go.
How do you get to HD 340?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 92 miles inside it), MT 2 (about 32 miles inside it), MT 41 (about 24 miles inside it), I-90 (about 14 miles inside it) and MT 375 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: Butte, Rader Creek, Silver Star and Glen. Nearby: Twin Bridges (on the line), Whitehall (on the line), Dillon (on the line) and Walkerville (3 miles).
Which districts border HD 340?
HD 340 touches 8 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 215 | East Deer Lodge | 49.4% | 346 | 286 |
| HD 319 | Fleecer-High Rye | 77.4% | 332 | 166 |
| 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 331 | Pioneer Mountains-East Big Hole | 81% | 689 | 576 |
| HD 350 | Whitetail-Bull Mountains | 82.5% | 93 | 183 |
| HD 370 | Bull Mountains | 37.1% | 103 | 95 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 340 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls in HD 340 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 83). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 340?
Butte, Rader Creek and Silver Star are inside the district. Just outside: Twin Bridges (on the line), Whitehall (on the line) and Dillon (on the line).
Does HD 340 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas covering 30,078 acres in HD 340: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Mccartney Mountain at 11,751 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 340?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 340 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 340
Those portions of Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Dillon, then northerly along Route 41 to its junction with Route 55, then northeasterly along said route to its junction with Interstate 90 at Whitehall, then westerly along said interstate to its junction with Interstate 15 west of Butte, then southerly along said interstate to Dillon, the point of beginning.
Request your free Montana hunt plan
The first 50 hunters in Montana get one hunt plan free. Request yours now. We will email you when your plan is ready.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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 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 215 HD 319 HD 320 HD 322 HD 324 HD 331 HD 350 HD 370