Hunting District 421, Birdtail Hills-South Dearborn: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 421 (Birdtail Hills-South Dearborn) is 11.4% public land, most of it state trust land (46,677 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 184 elk and 800 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 596 elk hunters spent 3,737 days here and took 167 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 421Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 518,688 acres (810 square miles) |
| Public land | 11.4% (58,912 acres) |
| Block Management | 10 areas, 68,843 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 184 (84 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 800 (403 mule deer, 397 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Elk of either sex |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Fort Shaw, Sun Prairie, Vaughn, Cascade, Great Falls and Fairfield |
HD 421 runs from Cascade and the Missouri River southwest to the Continental Divide at Rogers Pass, around Wolf Creek, Vaughn and Fort Shaw. The General Elk License allows elk of either sex in the general season.
How much public land is in HD 421?
11.4% of HD 421 is public land: 58,912 of its 518,688 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 46,677 acres or 9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 421 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 46,677 | 9% |
| National forest | 5,877 | 1.1% |
| BLM | 4,512 | 0.9% |
| Other public | 2,931 | 0.6% |
| FWP land | 1,846 | 0.4% |
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 421
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 10 areas in HD 421, 68,843 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Cascade Colony (22,714 acres, Type 1), Fairhaven Colony (21,973 acres, Type 1), Birdtail Butte (8,981 acres, Type 2), Olson Farms (4,732 acres, Type 1) and Deadman (3,848 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 421?
FWP estimates 184 elk were harvested in HD 421 in 2025: 84 bulls, 96 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 596 hunters took 167 elk, about 28 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 | 184 | 84 | 96 | 4 | 28 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 167 | 68 | 99 | 0 | 40 | 596 | 3,737 | 28 |
| 2023 | 154 | 96 | 55 | 3 | 67 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 103 | 47 | 56 | 0 | 32 | 478 | 2,615 | 22 |
| 2021 | 136 | 81 | 51 | 4 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 89 | 54 | 29 | 6 | 30 | 335 | 2,316 | 27 |
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 421?
FWP estimates 800 deer were harvested in HD 421 in 2025: 403 mule deer and 397 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,325 deer hunters spent 7,802 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 800 | 403 | 397 | 583 | 214 | 406 | 1,325 | 7,802 |
| 2024 | 820 | 413 | 407 | 604 | 213 | 420 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 797 | 370 | 427 | 529 | 268 | 358 | 1,313 | 7,340 |
| 2022 | 676 | 296 | 379 | 476 | 194 | 326 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 435 | 185 | 251 | 312 | 123 | 253 | 741 | 3,178 |
| 2020 | 411 | 213 | 198 | 312 | 96 | 221 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 421 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 421:
| 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: Jan 1-Feb 15 | Only valid outside National Forest boundary. | ||||
| General Elk License | Either-sex 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: Jan 1-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 421 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 421 allows mule deer of either sex (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 | Either-sex 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 | 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 98, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 421 before you go.
How do you get to HD 421?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 89 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 77 miles inside it), US 89 (about 28 miles inside it) and US 287 (about 25 miles inside it). Towns inside: Fort Shaw, Sun Prairie, Vaughn, Sun River, Hardy and Wolf Creek. Nearby: Cascade (on the line), Great Falls (2 miles) and Fairfield (9 miles).
Which districts border HD 421?
HD 421 touches 8 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 281 | Upper Blackfoot | 74.9% | 77 | 373 |
| HD 293 | South Lincoln-Nevada Creek | 56.1% | 231 | 242 |
| HD 339 | Sieben-Sleeping Giant | 28.6% | 176 | 202 |
| HD 404 | Lower Teton River | 7.5% | 3 | 994 |
| HD 413 | Northwest Little Belt Mountains | 34.3% | 374 | 1,263 |
| HD 422 | North Dearborn | 45.1% | 136 | 306 |
| HD 444 | Lower Sun River | 16% | 22 | 592 |
| HD 445 | Hound Creek | 12% | 521 | 879 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 421 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 421 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 98). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 421?
Fort Shaw, Sun Prairie and Vaughn are inside the district. Just outside: Cascade (on the line), Great Falls (2 miles) and Fairfield (9 miles).
Does HD 421 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 10 areas covering 68,843 acres in HD 421: 6 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 4 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Cascade Colony at 22,714 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 421?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 421 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 421
Those portions of Cascade and Lewis and Clark Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Cascade, then southwest along Interstate-15 to the bridge over Lyons Creek, then up said creek and the North Fork of Lyons Creek to the Continental Divide, then northwest along said divide to Highway 200 at Rogers Pass, then northeasterly along said route to its intersection with Interstate-15 at Vaughn, then south and west along said Interstate to Cascade, 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 98.
- 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 281 HD 293 HD 339 HD 404 HD 413 HD 422 HD 444 HD 445