Hunting District 392, Avalanche-Gates of the Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 392 (Avalanche-Gates of the Mountains) is 91.1% public land, most of it national forest (140,929 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 94 elk and 341 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,109 elk hunters spent 8,538 days here and took 111 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestBLMBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 392Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 3, Southwest Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 160,457 acres (251 square miles) |
| Public land | 91.1% (146,213 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 86 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 94 (84 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 341 (327 mule deer, 14 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 | York, East Helena and Helena |
HD 392 is the Big Belt Mountains east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir and Hauser Lake, north to the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness and the Beartooth WMA boundary, around York. It is 87.8% national forest. A mule deer buck takes permit 392-50.
How much public land is in HD 392?
91.1% of HD 392 is public land: 146,213 of its 160,457 acres. The largest share is national forest, 140,929 acres or 87.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 392 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 140,929 | 87.8% |
| BLM | 4,480 | 2.8% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 804 | 0.5% |
| Other public | 23 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
Block Management in HD 392
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 392, 86 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Sieben Martien Place (86 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 392?
FWP estimates 94 elk were harvested in HD 392 in 2025: 84 bulls, 10 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,109 hunters took 111 elk, about 10 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 | 94 | 84 | 10 | 0 | 29 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 111 | 66 | 42 | 3 | 25 | 1,109 | 8,538 | 10 |
| 2023 | 112 | 94 | 15 | 3 | 35 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 125 | 79 | 45 | 0 | 33 | 987 | 7,923 | 13 |
| 2021 | 125 | 101 | 24 | 0 | 35 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 127 | 95 | 32 | 0 | 51 | 1,011 | 8,068 | 13 |
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 392?
FWP estimates 341 deer were harvested in HD 392 in 2025: 327 mule deer and 14 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 691 deer hunters spent 5,085 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 341 | 327 | 14 | 297 | 44 | 130 | 691 | 5,085 |
| 2024 | 223 | 211 | 11 | 192 | 31 | 74 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 273 | 233 | 40 | 222 | 51 | 92 | 649 | 4,216 |
| 2022 | 284 | 235 | 50 | 193 | 92 | 82 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 246 | 207 | 38 | 198 | 44 | 85 | 518 | 3,500 |
| 2020 | 239 | 196 | 43 | 181 | 57 | 89 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 392 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 392:
| 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 | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 392-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 392 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 392 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29). A mule deer buck in HD 392 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 392-50, quota 500, apply by April 1.
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Deer License | Antlerless Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| 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: 392-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer Permit: 392-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. |
FWP's notes for HD 392: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Gates of the Mountains Game Preserve
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 88, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 392 before you go.
How do you get to HD 392?
No numbered highway crosses the district. Towns inside: York. Nearby: East Helena (8 miles) and Helena (11 miles).
Which districts border HD 392?
HD 392 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 339 | Sieben-Sleeping Giant | 28.6% | 176 | 202 |
| HD 380 | Radersburg | 42.1% | 419 | 723 |
| HD 388 | Tenmile-Prickly Pear Valley | 8.8% | 31 | 233 |
| HD 391 | Dry Creek-Avalanche | 39.3% | 313 | 677 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
| HD 455 | Beartooth WMA | 99.6% | 124 | 35 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 392 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls in HD 392 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 88). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 392?
York is inside the district. Just outside: East Helena (8 miles) and Helena (11 miles).
Does HD 392 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 392: Sieben Martien Place, 86 acres, a Type 2 area, where the landowner or FWP gives permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 392?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 392 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 392
Those portions of Broadwater and Lewis and Clark Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the mouth of Meriwether Canyon on the Missouri River, then northeasterly up the Meriwether Canyon-Mann Gulch Divide to the Meriwether Canyon-Willow Creek Divide, then northeasterly along said divide to Willow Mountain, then southeasterly along the Slip Gulch-Meriwether Canyon-Big Log Gulch Divide to Bear Prairie, then northeasterly along the Candle Gulch-Hunters Gulch Divide to Candle Mountain, then easterly along the Willow Creek-Hunters Gulch-Moors Creek Divide to Moors Mountain, then northeasterly along the Willow Creek-Elkhorn Creek-Porcupine Creek Divide to the posted Beartooth Wildlife Management Area-Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area boundary, then east, south and east along the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area and national forest boundary to the Beaver Creek Road (USFS Rd #138) in Section 23, then easterly along said road to USFS Rd #4143, then easterly along said road to the Lewis and Clark-Meagher County Line, then southerly and easterly along said county line to the Meagher-Broadwater County line, then southerly along said line to the Nary Time Gulch Trail (USFS Trail #234), then southwesterly along said trail to the Avalanche Creek Road (USFS Road #359), then southwesterly along said road to the USFS (Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest) boundary, then north and west along said boundary to Magpie Creek, then southwesterly along said creek to the east shoreline of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, then northerly along said shoreline and the east bank of the Missouri River to the mouth of Meriwether Canyon 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 88.
- 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.