Hunting District 416, Southwest Little Belt Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 416 (Southwest Little Belt Mountains) is 47.4% public land, most of it national forest (180,108 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 563 elk and 501 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 3,284 elk hunters spent 23,265 days here and took 620 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 416Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 418,364 acres (654 square miles) |
| Public land | 47.4% (198,425 acres) |
| Block Management | 2 areas, 26,430 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 563 (279 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 501 (267 mule deer, 233 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 | Neihart and White Sulphur Springs |
HD 416 is the southwest Little Belt Mountains north of White Sulphur Springs. FWP's legal description runs it from the Smith River east to US 89 near Neihart and back along US 12.
How much public land is in HD 416?
47.4% of HD 416 is public land: 198,425 of its 418,364 acres. The largest share is national forest, 180,108 acres or 43.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 416 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 180,108 | 43.1% |
| State trust land | 13,390 | 3.2% |
| BLM | 2,757 | 0.7% |
| FWP land | 2,170 | 0.5% |
| Other public | 44 | 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 416
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas in HD 416, 26,430 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Bair Ranch Foundation (23,992 acres, Type 2) and Townsend Ranch (2,438 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 416: Smith River WMA (2,184 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 416?
FWP estimates 563 elk were harvested in HD 416 in 2025: 279 bulls, 273 cows and 11 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 3,284 hunters took 620 elk, about 19 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 | 563 | 279 | 273 | 11 | 111 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 620 | 311 | 297 | 12 | 165 | 3,284 | 23,265 | 19 |
| 2023 | 589 | 334 | 252 | 3 | 178 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 695 | 359 | 320 | 16 | 194 | 3,081 | 19,666 | 23 |
| 2021 | 480 | 273 | 191 | 17 | 134 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 365 | 199 | 156 | 10 | 115 | 1,629 | 10,546 | 22 |
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 416?
FWP estimates 501 deer were harvested in HD 416 in 2025: 267 mule deer and 233 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,750 deer hunters spent 13,203 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 501 | 267 | 233 | 387 | 114 | 234 | 1,750 | 13,203 |
| 2024 | 577 | 291 | 287 | 418 | 159 | 240 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 576 | 319 | 258 | 446 | 124 | 278 | 1,983 | 13,043 |
| 2022 | 578 | 353 | 225 | 457 | 121 | 254 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 436 | 247 | 189 | 322 | 114 | 172 | 1,253 | 7,860 |
| 2020 | 277 | 122 | 155 | 213 | 64 | 146 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 416 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 416:
| 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 416 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 416 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 | 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: 004-01 | 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. |
FWP's notes for HD 416: HD 416 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Smith River WMA. Smith River WMA closed Dec 02 - May 15.
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 416 before you go.
How do you get to HD 416?
Highways through the district: US 89 (about 33 miles inside it) and US 12 (about 11 miles inside it). Nearby: Neihart (on the line) and White Sulphur Springs (on the line).
Which districts border HD 416?
HD 416 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 413 | Northwest Little Belt Mountains | 34.3% | 374 | 1,263 |
| HD 432 | Otter Creek | 46.8% | 115 | 282 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
| HD 448 | North Judith Basin-Central Little Belts | 73.8% | 124 | 304 |
| HD 452 | Castle Mountains | 38.6% | 299 | 345 |
| HD 540 | Southeast Little Belt Mountains | 33.5% | 205 | 281 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 416 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 416 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 416?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Neihart (on the line) and White Sulphur Springs (on the line).
Does HD 416 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 2 areas covering 26,430 acres in HD 416: 1 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Bair Ranch Foundation at 23,992 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 416?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 416 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 416
Those portions of Cascade, Meagher and Judith Basin Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at White Sulphur Springs, then northwest along Route 360 (Fort Logan-Millegan Road) to junction of said route with the Smith River, then north and downstream said river to its confluence with Tenderfoot Creek, then easterly up said creek the South Fork Tenderfoot Creek, then easterly along South Fork Tenderfoot Creek to USFS Road 6424 (South Fork Tenderfoot), then south along said road to its intersection with the main county road (Road 586 on Forest Service travel plan map), then easterly on said road past Eagle Park, Williams Park, and Onion Park to its junction with USFS Road 839, then north on said road to its junction with Harley Creek, then easterly along Harley Creek to its junction with US Highway 89 (two miles north of Neihart), then south on said highway to the junction with the South Fork of the Judith River-Hoover Springs-Deadman Creek Road, then east along said road to the Spring Creek-Whitetail Cabin Road, then south along said road to Highway 12, then west along said highway to White Sulphur Springs, 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.