Hunting District 415, Summit-North Fork Birch Creek: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 415 (Summit-North Fork Birch Creek) is 97.7% public land, most of it national forest (129,090 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 18 elk and 34 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 134 elk hunters spent 877 days here and took 12 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestNational park (no hunting)Other publicHD 415Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 132,176 acres (207 square miles) |
| Public land | 97.7% (129,090 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 18 (18 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 34 (11 mule deer, 23 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlered bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 20 miles |
HD 415 is the north end of the Rocky Mountain Front, from Marias Pass along Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Reservation south to Badger Pass. It is 97.7% national forest. The General Elk License covers antlered bulls in the general season.
How much public land is in HD 415?
97.7% of HD 415 is public land: 129,090 of its 132,176 acres. The largest share is national forest, 129,090 acres or 97.7% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 415 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 129,090 | 97.7% |
| National park (no hunting) | 39 | under 0.1% |
| Other public | 19 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026. National park land is closed to hunting.
How many elk are harvested in HD 415?
FWP estimates 18 elk were harvested in HD 415 in 2025: 18 bulls, 0 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 134 hunters took 12 elk, about 9 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 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 134 | 877 | 9 |
| 2023 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 164 | 1,247 | 10 |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 162 | 960 | 7 |
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 415?
FWP estimates 34 deer were harvested in HD 415 in 2025: 11 mule deer and 23 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 102 deer hunters spent 539 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | 11 | 23 | 24 | 10 | 18 | 102 | 539 |
| 2024 | 32 | 18 | 15 | 23 | 9 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 27 | 24 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 20 | 111 | 1,201 |
| 2022 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 3 | 13 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 124 | 736 | |
| 2020 | 27 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 3 | 14 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 415 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 415:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlered Bull 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 415 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 415 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (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 White-tailed Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule 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. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 95, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 415 before you go.
How do you get to HD 415?
Highways through the district: US 2 (about 9 miles inside it).
Which districts border HD 415?
HD 415 touches 3 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 141 | Lower Middle Fork | 98% | 15 | 25 |
| HD 150 | Upper South Fork | 100% | 47 | 44 |
| HD 441 | North Fork Birch Creek-Teton | 37.9% | 123 | 243 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 415 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlered bulls in HD 415 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 95). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 415?
No town lies inside HD 415, and none is within 20 miles of its boundary in the Census Bureau's list of places.
Does HD 415 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 415.
Where is FWP's map of HD 415?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 415 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 415
Those portions of Pondera and Glacier Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Summit on Marias Pass, then northeast along the Glacier Park Boundary to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation boundary, then southeasterly along said boundary to USFS Trail 121 (North Fork of Birch Creek Trail), then westerly along said trail to Badger Pass, then northwesterly along the Continental Divide to Summit, 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 95.
- 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.