Hunting District 418, South Judith Basin: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 418 (South Judith Basin) is 21% public land, most of it national forest (34,580 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 186 elk and 278 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 416 elk hunters spent 2,919 days here and took 114 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 landOther publicHD 418Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 307,293 acres (480 square miles) |
| Public land | 21% (64,586 acres) |
| Block Management | 8 areas, 37,873 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 186 (53 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 278 (119 mule deer, 159 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 | Hobson, Sapphire Ridge, Moccasin, Judith Gap, Moore and Stanford |
HD 418 is the south Judith Basin around Hobson, Utica and Moccasin, up into the Little Belts at Mount High. The General Elk License allows a brow-tined bull or an antlerless elk. FWP estimated 186 elk were taken in 2025.
How much public land is in HD 418?
21% of HD 418 is public land: 64,586 of its 307,293 acres. The largest share is national forest, 34,580 acres or 11.3% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 418 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 34,580 | 11.3% |
| State trust land | 28,037 | 9.1% |
| BLM | 1,969 | 0.6% |
| Other public | 255 | 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 418
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 8 areas in HD 418, 37,873 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Twin Sisters (15,180 acres, Type 2), White Rock Ranch (6,627 acres, Type 1), B&H Ranch (6,273 acres, Type 1), Oka Butte (4,074 acres, Type 2) and Mathews Ranch (3,454 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 418?
FWP estimates 186 elk were harvested in HD 418 in 2025: 53 bulls, 122 cows and 11 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 416 hunters took 114 elk, about 27 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 | 186 | 53 | 122 | 11 | 17 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 114 | 19 | 89 | 6 | 13 | 416 | 2,919 | 27 |
| 2023 | 108 | 58 | 50 | 0 | 26 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 103 | 40 | 61 | 3 | 21 | 297 | 1,643 | 35 |
| 2021 | 76 | 37 | 39 | 0 | 22 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 100 | 56 | 43 | 1 | 20 | 331 | 1,946 | 30 |
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 418?
FWP estimates 278 deer were harvested in HD 418 in 2025: 119 mule deer and 159 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 495 deer hunters spent 4,579 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 278 | 119 | 159 | 216 | 62 | 138 | 495 | 4,579 |
| 2024 | 349 | 150 | 199 | 269 | 78 | 179 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 244 | 105 | 138 | 176 | 65 | 134 | 493 | 2,643 |
| 2022 | 339 | 97 | 242 | 217 | 122 | 146 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 313 | 163 | 150 | 265 | 48 | 179 | 541 | 3,602 |
| 2020 | 275 | 118 | 157 | 239 | 36 | 170 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 418 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 418:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Not valid on National Forest Lands. | ||||
| 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 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | 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 418 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 418 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. |
| Deer B License: 418-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 96 to 97, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 418 before you go.
How do you get to HD 418?
Highways through the district: MT 3 (about 20 miles inside it), US 87 (about 16 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 16 miles inside it) and US 191 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hobson, Sapphire Ridge and Moccasin. Nearby: Judith Gap (on the line), Moore (2 miles), Stanford (6 miles) and Lewistown (15 miles).
Which districts border HD 418?
HD 418 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 411 | Snowy Mountains | 20.7% | 845 | 1,225 |
| HD 419 | Stanford | 10.4% | 58 | 505 |
| HD 420 | Judith River WMA-Sage Creek | 53% | 80 | 130 |
| HD 448 | North Judith Basin-Central Little Belts | 73.8% | 124 | 304 |
| HD 535 | Southern Snowy Mountains | 17.5% | 482 | 571 |
| HD 540 | Southeast Little Belt Mountains | 33.5% | 205 | 281 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 418 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 418 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 96). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 418?
Hobson, Sapphire Ridge and Moccasin are inside the district. Just outside: Judith Gap (on the line), Moore (2 miles) and Stanford (6 miles).
Does HD 418 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 8 areas covering 37,873 acres in HD 418: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 4 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Twin Sisters at 15,180 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 418?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 418 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 418
Those portions of Judith Basin and Fergus Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of US Highway 87 and State Highway 239 near Windham, then south and east along said route to Utica, then southwesterly following the Judith River Road-South Fork Judith River Road (USFS Road 487) to the mouth of Dry Pole Canyon, then up the main fork of the stream course in Dry Pole Canyon to the Mount High Lookout location, then easterly along the USFS Road 382 (Mount High Lookout-Jellison Guard Station Road) to the permanent boundary marker (Wheatland-Judith Basin County line) on said road, then east on said line to its confluence with US Highway 191 (one mile north of Judith Gap), then north on said highway to its junction with US Highway 87 (Eddie’s corner), then west on said highway to its junction with State Highway 239 near Windham, 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, pages 96 to 97.
- 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.
Montana hunting Region 4 HD 411 HD 419 HD 420 HD 448 HD 535 HD 540