Hunting District 403, Cut Bank: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 403 (Cut Bank) is 11.7% public land, most of it state trust land (34,819 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 10 elk and 225 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 54 elk hunters spent 278 days here and took 6 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 403Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 422,850 acres (661 square miles) |
| Public land | 11.7% (49,432 acres) |
| Block Management | 4 areas, 33,910 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 10 (10 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 225 (183 mule deer, 42 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 | Sunburst, Kevin, Santa Rita, Cut Bank, Shelby and Valier |
HD 403 lies between I-15, US 2 and the Blackfeet Reservation, north to the Canadian border, around Sunburst and Kevin. FWP notes elk will be hard to find: its estimate for 2025 was 10 elk. The general deer season runs three weeks.
How much public land is in HD 403?
11.7% of HD 403 is public land: 49,432 of its 422,850 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 34,819 acres or 8.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 403 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 34,819 | 8.2% |
| BLM | 14,519 | 3.4% |
| Other public | 1,199 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge | 94 | 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 403
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas in HD 403, 33,910 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Kevin Rim (13,667 acres, Type 1), Rimrock Colony (11,315 acres, Type 1), Big Rose Colony (6,611 acres, Type 1) and Farbo Farms (2,318 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 403?
FWP estimates 10 elk were harvested in HD 403 in 2025: 10 bulls, 0 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 54 hunters took 6 elk, about 11 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 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 278 | 11 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 139 | 13 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 352 | 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 403?
FWP estimates 225 deer were harvested in HD 403 in 2025: 183 mule deer and 42 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 418 deer hunters spent 2,149 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 225 | 183 | 42 | 159 | 66 | 77 | 418 | 2,149 |
| 2024 | 343 | 243 | 99 | 206 | 136 | 105 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 270 | 206 | 64 | 169 | 98 | 104 | 461 | 2,284 |
| 2022 | 266 | 198 | 68 | 158 | 108 | 98 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 222 | 167 | 55 | 157 | 65 | 126 | 416 | 2,110 |
| 2020 | 279 | 172 | 108 | 202 | 77 | 139 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 403 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 403:
| 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 403 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 403 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 White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | 3 week general season. | |||
| General Deer License | Either-sex Mule 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 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: 403-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 15 | ||
| Deer Permit: 403-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 30 | 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: 403-51 | Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer | April 1 | 10 | Nov 16-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. |
FWP's notes for HD 403: Elk numbers are low and elk will be difficult to find.
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 403 before you go.
How do you get to HD 403?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 22 miles inside it) and US 2 (about 19 miles inside it). Towns inside: Sunburst, Kevin, Santa Rita and Sweet Grass. Nearby: Cut Bank (on the line), Shelby (on the line) and Valier (18 miles).
Which districts border HD 403?
HD 403 touches 3 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 401 | Sweet Grass Hills | 9.3% | 106 | 758 |
| HD 406 | Upper Marias-Dupuyer | 9% | 7 | 445 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 403 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 403 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 90). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 403?
Sunburst, Kevin and Santa Rita are inside the district. Just outside: Cut Bank (on the line), Shelby (on the line) and Valier (18 miles).
Does HD 403 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas covering 33,910 acres in HD 403: all 4 are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Kevin Rim at 13,667 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 403?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 403 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 403
Those portions of Glacier and Toole Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning on the Canadian Border at Sweetgrass, then south on Interstate 15 to Shelby, then west on US Highway 2 to Cut Bank, then north along the eastern boundary of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to the Canadian border, then east along said border 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.