Hunting District 401, Sweet Grass Hills: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 401 (Sweet Grass Hills) is 9.3% public land, most of it state trust land (94,246 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 106 elk and 758 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 405 elk hunters spent 2,461 days here and took 125 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 401Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,158,706 acres (1,810 square miles) |
| Public land | 9.3% (108,253 acres) |
| Block Management | 16 areas, 144,345 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 106 (34 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 758 (467 mule deer, 291 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Joplin, Whitlash, Chester, Shelby and Sunburst |
HD 401 runs from the Canadian border at Sweetgrass east to the Liberty-Hill county line and south to US 2, taking in the Sweet Grass Hills. The general deer season runs three weeks, to November 15. An either-sex elk takes permit 401-20.
How much public land is in HD 401?
9.3% of HD 401 is public land: 108,253 of its 1,158,706 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 94,246 acres or 8.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 401 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 94,246 | 8.1% |
| BLM | 9,381 | 0.8% |
| National wildlife refuge | 4,626 | 0.4% |
| Other public | 1,393 | 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 401
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 16 areas in HD 401, 144,345 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Sweetgrass Hills (42,889 acres, Type 1), Duce Creek (15,537 acres, Type 1), Ecc (13,644 acres, Type 2), Plenty Water (11,348 acres, Type 1) and Willow Ridge Ranch (8,630 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 401?
FWP estimates 106 elk were harvested in HD 401 in 2025: 34 bulls, 68 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 405 hunters took 125 elk, about 31 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 | 106 | 34 | 68 | 4 | 12 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 125 | 65 | 60 | 0 | 46 | 405 | 2,461 | 31 |
| 2023 | 104 | 37 | 67 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 98 | 41 | 54 | 3 | 20 | 414 | 2,734 | 24 |
| 2021 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 0 | 11 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 49 | 16 | 32 | 0 | 14 | 429 | 2,585 | 11 |
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 401?
FWP estimates 758 deer were harvested in HD 401 in 2025: 467 mule deer and 291 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,204 deer hunters spent 6,225 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 758 | 467 | 291 | 497 | 261 | 346 | 1,204 | 6,225 |
| 2024 | 715 | 443 | 272 | 511 | 204 | 374 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 800 | 480 | 320 | 560 | 237 | 442 | 1,392 | 7,224 |
| 2022 | 917 | 511 | 406 | 631 | 279 | 460 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 854 | 517 | 337 | 624 | 230 | 452 | 1,330 | 6,942 |
| 2020 | 767 | 432 | 336 | 538 | 230 | 422 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 401 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 401:
| 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 | |||||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | 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. |
| Elk Permit: 401-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 50 | 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 401 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 401 allows mule deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 15) and white-tailed 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 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | 3 week general season. | |||
| General Deer License | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 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 29 | 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: 401-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 200 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | ||
| Deer Permit: 401-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 135 | 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: 401-51 | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | April 1 | 45 | Nov 16-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 90, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 401 before you go.
How do you get to HD 401?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 47 miles inside it), US 2 (about 36 miles inside it) and MT 343 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Joplin and Whitlash. Nearby: Chester (on the line), Shelby (on the line), Sunburst (on the line) and Kevin (5 miles).
Which districts border HD 401?
HD 401 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 400 | Lower Marias River | 12.8% | 27 | 1,091 |
| HD 403 | Cut Bank | 11.7% | 10 | 225 |
| HD 406 | Upper Marias-Dupuyer | 9% | 7 | 445 |
| 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 401 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk in HD 401 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 90). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 401?
Joplin and Whitlash are inside the district. Just outside: Chester (on the line), Shelby (on the line) and Sunburst (on the line).
Does HD 401 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 16 areas covering 144,345 acres in HD 401: 12 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 4 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Sweetgrass Hills at 42,889 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 401?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 401 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 401
Those portions of Toole and Liberty Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Port of Sweetgrass and its junction with Interstate 15 on the Canadian border, then east on said border to the Liberty-Hill County line, then south on said line to US Highway 2, then west along said highway to Shelby and Interstate 15, then north along said interstate to Sweetgrass, 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 90.
- 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.