Hunting District 417, Armells Creek: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 417 (Armells Creek) is 37.5% public land, most of it BLM (141,604 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 302 elk and 124 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 662 elk hunters spent 4,997 days here and took 292 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 417Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 550,320 acres (860 square miles) |
| Public land | 37.5% (206,545 acres) |
| Block Management | 8 areas, 40,679 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 302 (185 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 124 (93 mule deer, 31 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk (south of D-Y Trail to intersection of Knox Ridge Road, then south of Knox Ridge Road thereafter) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Hilger, Winifred and Lewistown |
HD 417 runs from Hilger north to the Missouri River, between US 191, the Stafford Ferry road and the DY Trail. BLM is 25.7% of it. An either-sex elk takes permit 417-20, and FWP lets elk hunters here also hunt the Missouri River islands next to where their permit is valid.
How much public land is in HD 417?
37.5% of HD 417 is public land: 206,545 of its 550,320 acres. The largest share is BLM, 141,604 acres or 25.7% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 417 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 141,604 | 25.7% |
| State trust land | 46,200 | 8.4% |
| National wildlife refuge | 18,741 | 3.4% |
| Other public | 120 | 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 417
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 8 areas in HD 417, 40,679 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Murphy Coulee (9,881 acres, Type 1), Boyce Bros (8,501 acres, Type 2), Bold Ranch (8,458 acres, Type 2), 2 Calf (5,598 acres, Type 1) and Rocky Point (4,434 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 417?
FWP estimates 302 elk were harvested in HD 417 in 2025: 185 bulls, 117 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 662 hunters took 292 elk, about 44 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 | 302 | 185 | 117 | 0 | 151 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 292 | 185 | 107 | 0 | 148 | 662 | 4,997 | 44 |
| 2023 | 245 | 105 | 134 | 6 | 85 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 278 | 161 | 114 | 3 | 120 | 822 | 5,685 | 34 |
| 2021 | 208 | 105 | 99 | 4 | 71 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 334 | 172 | 159 | 4 | 132 | 811 | 5,333 | 41 |
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 417?
FWP estimates 124 deer were harvested in HD 417 in 2025: 93 mule deer and 31 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 253 deer hunters spent 1,366 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 124 | 93 | 31 | 105 | 19 | 72 | 253 | 1,366 |
| 2024 | 138 | 74 | 65 | 120 | 18 | 93 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 309 | 262 | 47 | 267 | 42 | 189 | 750 | 4,498 |
| 2022 | 387 | 339 | 48 | 316 | 67 | 207 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 584 | 519 | 65 | 441 | 143 | 288 | 1,161 | 6,617 |
| 2020 | 547 | 471 | 76 | 444 | 100 | 351 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 417 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 417:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid south of D-Y Trail to intersection of Knox Ridge Road, then south of Knox Ridge Road thereafter. Not valid west of Stafford Ferry Rd. | ||
| Elk B License: 004-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid south of D-Y Trail to intersection of Knox Ridge Road, then south of Knox Ridge Road thereafter. Not valid west of Stafford Ferry Rd. 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. |
| Elk B License: 417-02 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk Permit: 417-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 225 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | 1st and only choice. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
| Elk Permit: 417-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 300 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 1st and only choice. Only valid in HDs 417 and 426. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. |
When is deer season in HD 417 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 417 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29). A mule deer buck in HD 417 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 417-50, quota 100, apply by April 1.
| 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 | |||
| 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: 417-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| Deer Permit: 417-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-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. |
FWP's notes for HD 417: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Charles M. Russell (CMR) National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Elk hunters in HD 417 may also hunt on islands in the Missouri River adjacent to where their elk permit is valid. Island is defined as land completely surrounded by water at the time of the hunt.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 96, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 417 before you go.
How do you get to HD 417?
Highways through the district: US 191 (about 16 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hilger. Nearby: Winifred (on the line) and Lewistown (15 miles).
Which districts border HD 417?
HD 417 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 410 | Missouri River Breaks | 47.4% | 452 | 221 |
| HD 412 | Judith and Moccasin Mountains | 15.6% | 253 | 732 |
| HD 426 | Winifred | 20.8% | 122 | 448 |
| HD 621 | Upper Missouri Breaks-West | 75.8% | 93 | 266 |
| HD 690 | South Hill-Blaine-Chouteau | 18.5% | 349 | 1,544 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 417 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk (south of D-Y Trail to intersection of Knox Ridge Road, then south of Knox Ridge Road thereafter) in HD 417 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 96). FWP also lists 4 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 417?
Hilger is inside the district. Just outside: Winifred (on the line) and Lewistown (15 miles).
Does HD 417 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 8 areas covering 40,679 acres in HD 417: 5 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 3 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Murphy Coulee at 9,881 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 417?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 417 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 417
Those portions of Fergus County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Hilger, then easterly and northerly on US Highway 191 to the Missouri River, then westerly up said river to the Stafford Ferry Road, then south on said road to the DY Trail, then westerly on said road to Route 236 at Winifred, then south on said route US Highway 191 at Hilger, the point of beginning.
Request your free Montana hunt plan
The first 50 hunters in Montana get one hunt plan free. Request yours now. We will email you when your plan is ready.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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 96.
- 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.