Hunting District 361, Hebgen-Upper Madison: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 361 (Hebgen-Upper Madison) is 80% public land, most of it national forest (114,900 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 79 elk and 44 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 581 elk hunters spent 5,021 days here and took 87 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestOther publicHD 361Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 143,660 acres (224 square miles) |
| Public land | 80% (114,900 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 79 (46 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 44 (37 mule deer, 8 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 | West Yellowstone and Hebgen Lake Estates |
HD 361 is the West Yellowstone and Hebgen Lake country between Yellowstone National Park, the Idaho line and the Madison River at Earthquake Lake. National forest is 80% of it; the park is outside the district.
How much public land is in HD 361?
80% of HD 361 is public land: 114,900 of its 143,660 acres. The largest share is national forest, 114,900 acres or 80% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 361 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 114,900 | 80% |
| Other public | 895 | 0.6% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
How many elk are harvested in HD 361?
FWP estimates 79 elk were harvested in HD 361 in 2025: 46 bulls, 31 cows and 3 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 581 hunters took 87 elk, about 15 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 | 79 | 46 | 31 | 3 | 22 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 87 | 37 | 50 | 0 | 16 | 581 | 5,021 | 15 |
| 2023 | 87 | 72 | 16 | 0 | 23 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 106 | 75 | 31 | 0 | 26 | 587 | 4,640 | 18 |
| 2021 | 74 | 26 | 45 | 2 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 48 | 33 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 327 | 2,536 | 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 361?
FWP estimates 44 deer were harvested in HD 361 in 2025: 37 mule deer and 8 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 308 deer hunters spent 2,375 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | 37 | 8 | 37 | 7 | 18 | 308 | 2,375 |
| 2024 | 32 | 29 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 14 | 229 | 1,672 |
| 2022 | 37 | 28 | 9 | 25 | 12 | 15 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 38 | 38 | 29 | 9 | 18 | 231 | 1,740 | |
| 2020 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 9 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 361 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 361:
| 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 | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 361-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 361 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 361 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. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 85, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 361 before you go.
How do you get to HD 361?
Highways through the district: US 20 (about 10 miles inside it), US 191 (about 10 miles inside it), US 287 (about 9 miles inside it) and MT 87 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: West Yellowstone and Hebgen Lake Estates.
Which districts border HD 361?
HD 361 touches 2 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 323 | Gravelly-Centennial | 73.3% | 748 | 671 |
| HD 360 | Madison Range | 54.6% | 629 | 483 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 361 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 361 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 85). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 361?
West Yellowstone and Hebgen Lake Estates are inside the district.
Does HD 361 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 361.
Where is FWP's map of HD 361?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 361 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 361
Those portions of Madison and Gallatin Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning where the western boundary of Yellowstone National Park intersects the Montana-Idaho border, then northerly along the Yellowstone National Park Boundary to its intersection with US Highway 191, then southerly along said highway to its junction with US Highway 287 at the Duck Creek Y, then westerly along said highway to Grayling Creek, then down said creek to Hebgen Lake, then westerly along the north shore of Hebgen Lake to Hebgen Lake Dam, then westerly along the north shore of the Madison River and Earthquake Lake to Route 87, then southerly along said route to the Montana-Idaho border then southeasterly along said border to the intersection of the Yellowstone National Park Boundary, 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 85.
- 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.