Hunting District 400, Lower Marias River: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 400 (Lower Marias River) is 12.8% public land, most of it state trust land (98,682 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 27 elk and 1,091 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 202 elk hunters spent 1,332 days here and took 29 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
BLMState trust landFWP landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 400Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,210,034 acres (1,891 square miles) |
| Public land | 12.8% (155,051 acres) |
| Block Management | 17 areas, 152,460 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 27 (4 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,091 (725 mule deer, 366 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Elk of either sex |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Shelby, Fort Benton, Chester, Conrad, Dutton and Valier |
HD 400 is the lower Marias River and wheat country between Shelby, Chester, Conrad and Fort Benton, 1,891 square miles. FWP notes elk numbers are low. The general deer season runs three weeks, October 24 to November 15; from November 16 a buck takes permit 400-50 (mule deer) or 400-51 (white-tailed deer).
How much public land is in HD 400?
12.8% of HD 400 is public land: 155,051 of its 1,210,034 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 98,682 acres or 8.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 400 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 98,682 | 8.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 32,353 | 2.7% |
| BLM | 24,013 | 2% |
| Other public | 4,308 | 0.4% |
| FWP land | 3 | 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 400
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 17 areas in HD 400, 152,460 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Marias River (72,801 acres, Type 1), M&V Farm And Ranch (16,382 acres, Type 2), Sunnybrook Colony (15,328 acres, Type 1), Dugout Coulee (7,632 acres, Type 1) and Evergreen Farms (7,233 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 400?
FWP estimates 27 elk were harvested in HD 400 in 2025: 4 bulls, 23 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 202 hunters took 29 elk, about 14 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 | 27 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 29 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 202 | 1,332 | 14 |
| 2023 | 33 | 12 | 18 | 3 | 9 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 865 | 16 |
| 2021 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 90 | 44 | 46 | 0 | 22 | 264 | 1,797 | 34 |
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 400?
FWP estimates 1,091 deer were harvested in HD 400 in 2025: 725 mule deer and 366 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,000 deer hunters spent 12,562 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,091 | 725 | 366 | 777 | 311 | 519 | 2,000 | 12,562 |
| 2024 | 1,194 | 759 | 435 | 768 | 420 | 499 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,314 | 849 | 465 | 910 | 404 | 654 | 1,918 | 10,431 |
| 2022 | 1,034 | 642 | 392 | 682 | 350 | 473 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,196 | 788 | 408 | 863 | 326 | 566 | 1,769 | 8,700 |
| 2020 | 1,180 | 742 | 438 | 822 | 345 | 608 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 400 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 400:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Either-sex Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| Elk B License: 004-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Not valid on National Forest lands, FWP WMAs, or CMR Refuge. Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HDs 410 and 455 as listed under each HD. |
When is deer season in HD 400 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 400 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 15) and mule deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 15).
| 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 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Oct 24-Nov 15 | 3-week general season. | ||||
| General Deer License | Either-sex Mule Deer | Oct 24-Nov 15 | 3-week general season. | ||||
| Deer B License: 004-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | One per hunter. Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HD 455. | |
| Deer B License: 004-01 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 2,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HD 455. | |
| Deer B License: 400-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 300 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | ||
| Deer Permit: 400-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 110 | Nov 16-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. | |
| Deer Permit: 400-51 | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | April 1 | 35 | Nov 16-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. |
FWP's notes for HD 400: Elk numbers are low and will be difficult to find.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 89, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 400 before you go.
How do you get to HD 400?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 30 miles inside it), US 2 (about 18 miles inside it) and US 87 (about 11 miles inside it). Towns inside: Shelby, Fort Benton and Chester. Nearby: Conrad (on the line), Dutton (13 miles), Valier (15 miles) and Hingham (15 miles).
Which districts border HD 400?
HD 400 touches 8 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 401 | Sweet Grass Hills | 9.3% | 106 | 758 |
| HD 403 | Cut Bank | 11.7% | 10 | 225 |
| HD 404 | Lower Teton River | 7.5% | 3 | 994 |
| HD 405 | Carter | 7.1% | 18 | 794 |
| HD 406 | Upper Marias-Dupuyer | 9% | 7 | 445 |
| HD 471 | Geraldine | 19.2% | 15 | 329 |
| HD 600 | North Hill-Blaine | 20% | 22 | 1,054 |
| HD 690 | South Hill-Blaine-Chouteau | 18.5% | 349 | 1,544 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 400 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 400 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 89). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 400?
Shelby, Fort Benton and Chester are inside the district. Just outside: Conrad (on the line), Dutton (13 miles) and Valier (15 miles).
Does HD 400 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 17 areas covering 152,460 acres in HD 400: 16 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Marias River at 72,801 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 400?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 400 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
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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 89.
- 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 4 HD 401 HD 403 HD 404 HD 405 HD 406 HD 471 HD 600 HD 690