Hunting District 405, Carter: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 405 (Carter) is 7.1% public land, most of it state trust land (15,853 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 18 elk and 794 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 101 elk hunters spent 540 days here and took 14 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestBLMState trust landFWP landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 405Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 301,315 acres (471 square miles) |
| Public land | 7.1% (21,366 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 2,097 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 18 (4 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 794 (588 mule deer, 207 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 | Belt, Highwood, Malmstrom AFB, Fort Benton and Great Falls |
HD 405 is the country between Great Falls, Belt and Fort Benton, around Carter, Highwood and Black Eagle. Public land is 7.1%. Of the 794 deer FWP estimated were taken here in 2025, 588 were mule deer.
How much public land is in HD 405?
7.1% of HD 405 is public land: 21,366 of its 301,315 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 15,853 acres or 5.3% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 405 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 15,853 | 5.3% |
| Other public | 4,855 | 1.6% |
| BLM | 3,862 | 1.3% |
| FWP land | 1,288 | 0.4% |
| National wildlife refuge | 336 | 0.1% |
| National forest | 27 | 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 405
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 405, 2,097 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Many Hills (2,097 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 405?
FWP estimates 18 elk were harvested in HD 405 in 2025: 4 bulls, 14 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 101 hunters took 14 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 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 101 | 540 | 14 |
| 2023 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 271 | 28 |
| 2021 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 475 | 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 405?
FWP estimates 794 deer were harvested in HD 405 in 2025: 588 mule deer and 207 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,279 deer hunters spent 6,315 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 794 | 588 | 207 | 468 | 318 | 281 | 1,279 | 6,315 |
| 2024 | 940 | 698 | 242 | 524 | 399 | 311 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 771 | 583 | 188 | 496 | 272 | 348 | 1,131 | 5,253 |
| 2022 | 891 | 682 | 209 | 566 | 320 | 356 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 719 | 574 | 145 | 434 | 285 | 256 | 968 | 4,767 |
| 2020 | 855 | 660 | 196 | 544 | 308 | 321 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 405 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 405:
| 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 405 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 405 allows mule deer of either sex (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 | 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: 004-00 | 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 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 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HD 455. |
| Deer B License: 405-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 400 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
FWP's notes for HD 405: Elk numbers are low and will be difficult to find.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 91, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 405 before you go.
How do you get to HD 405?
Highways through the district: US 87 (about 38 miles inside it), US 89 (about 10 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 10 miles inside it) and MT 3 (about 10 miles inside it). Towns inside: Belt, Highwood, Malmstrom AFB, Carter, Black Eagle and Floweree. Nearby: Fort Benton (on the line) and Great Falls (on the line).
Which districts border HD 405?
HD 405 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 404 | Lower Teton River | 7.5% | 3 | 994 |
| HD 413 | Northwest Little Belt Mountains | 34.3% | 374 | 1,263 |
| HD 447 | Belt-Square Butte | 21.2% | 277 | 807 |
| HD 471 | Geraldine | 19.2% | 15 | 329 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 405 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 405 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 91). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 405?
Belt, Highwood and Malmstrom AFB are inside the district. Just outside: Fort Benton (on the line) and Great Falls (on the line).
Does HD 405 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 405: Many Hills, 2,097 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 405?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 405 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 405
Those portions of Cascade and Chouteau Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Fort Benton, then northwesterly along Route 223 to Highway 87, then southwesterly along said highway to Great Falls, then southeasterly along Highway 87 and 89 to Belt Creek, then northerly down said creek to Route 228 near Highwood, then northeasterly along said route to Highway 80 near Ft. Benton then northwesterly along said route to Route 223 at Fort Benton, 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 91.
- 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.