Hunting District 413, Northwest Little Belt Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 413 (Northwest Little Belt Mountains) is 34.3% public land, most of it national forest (178,801 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 374 elk and 1,263 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,994 elk hunters spent 15,316 days here and took 317 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 landOther publicHD 413Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 562,362 acres (879 square miles) |
| Public land | 34.3% (193,156 acres) |
| Block Management | 4 areas, 36,244 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 374 (162 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,263 (564 mule deer, 698 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Gibson Flats, Sand Coulee, Stockett, Great Falls, Belt and Neihart |
HD 413 is the northwest Little Belt Mountains and the ranch country south and east of Great Falls, toward Belt, Monarch and Neihart.
How much public land is in HD 413?
34.3% of HD 413 is public land: 193,156 of its 562,362 acres. The largest share is national forest, 178,801 acres or 31.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 413 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 178,801 | 31.8% |
| State trust land | 7,438 | 1.3% |
| BLM | 5,435 | 1% |
| FWP land | 1,482 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 718 | 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 413
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas in HD 413, 36,244 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Hill Top Colony (9,743 acres, Type 1), Pleasant Valley Colony (9,622 acres, Type 1), Grasslands Colony (9,503 acres, Type 1) and Big Stone Colony (7,376 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 413?
FWP estimates 374 elk were harvested in HD 413 in 2025: 162 bulls, 208 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,994 hunters took 317 elk, about 16 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 | 374 | 162 | 208 | 4 | 92 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 317 | 158 | 144 | 15 | 88 | 1,994 | 15,316 | 16 |
| 2023 | 348 | 203 | 136 | 9 | 109 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 406 | 213 | 184 | 10 | 120 | 1,789 | 11,684 | 23 |
| 2021 | 238 | 122 | 115 | 0 | 58 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 141 | 81 | 57 | 4 | 43 | 908 | 5,785 | 16 |
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 413?
FWP estimates 1,263 deer were harvested in HD 413 in 2025: 564 mule deer and 698 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,609 deer hunters spent 17,008 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,263 | 564 | 698 | 892 | 367 | 606 | 2,609 | 17,008 |
| 2024 | 1,660 | 754 | 907 | 1,200 | 460 | 799 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,488 | 732 | 756 | 1,086 | 398 | 742 | 2,783 | 15,981 |
| 2022 | 1,546 | 776 | 770 | 1,074 | 472 | 724 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,163 | 532 | 631 | 803 | 360 | 531 | 1,901 | 9,654 |
| 2020 | 1,189 | 570 | 619 | 723 | 452 | 508 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 413 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 413:
| 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 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| Elk B License: 004-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | 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 413 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 413 allows mule deer bucks (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 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | Only valid in Great Falls portion of HD 413. See Legal Description. | ||||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck 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 | UNL | 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: 004-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | Only valid in Great Falls portion of HD 413. See Legal Description. | ||
| 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: 004-01 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 2,000 | Late: Nov 30-Jan 15 | Only valid in Great Falls portion of HD 413. See Legal Description. | ||
| Deer B License: 413-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
FWP's notes for HD 413: HD 413 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Missouri River between the mouth of Sand Coulee Crk downstream to Great Falls city limits (this includes Park and Taylor Islands and all other unnamed islands) restricted to ArchEquip only.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 94, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 413 before you go.
How do you get to HD 413?
Highways through the district: US 89 (about 26 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 21 miles inside it), MT 3 (about 20 miles inside it), US 87 (about 16 miles inside it) and I-15 (about 8 miles inside it). Towns inside: Gibson Flats, Sand Coulee, Stockett, Monarch, Centerville and Tracy. Nearby: Great Falls (on the line), Belt (on the line), Neihart (2 miles) and Cascade (12 miles).
Which districts border HD 413?
HD 413 touches 8 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 404 | Lower Teton River | 7.5% | 3 | 994 |
| HD 405 | Carter | 7.1% | 18 | 794 |
| HD 416 | Southwest Little Belt Mountains | 47.4% | 563 | 501 |
| HD 421 | Birdtail Hills-South Dearborn | 11.4% | 184 | 800 |
| HD 432 | Otter Creek | 46.8% | 115 | 282 |
| HD 445 | Hound Creek | 12% | 521 | 879 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
| HD 447 | Belt-Square Butte | 21.2% | 277 | 807 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 413 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 413 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 94). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 413?
Gibson Flats, Sand Coulee and Stockett are inside the district. Just outside: Great Falls (on the line), Belt (on the line) and Neihart (2 miles).
Does HD 413 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas covering 36,244 acres in HD 413: all 4 are Type 1, where hunters give themselves permission. The largest is Hill Top Colony at 9,743 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 413?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 413 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 94.
- 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.