Hunting District 422, North Dearborn: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 422 (North Dearborn) is 45.1% public land, most of it national forest (110,926 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 136 elk and 306 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 740 elk hunters spent 4,379 days here and took 151 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 422Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 310,176 acres (485 square miles) |
| Public land | 45.1% (139,776 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 5,677 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 136 (52 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 306 (119 mule deer, 187 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 | Augusta |
HD 422 is the Dearborn River and Rocky Mountain Front country around Augusta, west to the Continental Divide. Augusta is the only town inside. The General Elk License allows elk of either sex, and mule deer rules split at the national forest boundary.
How much public land is in HD 422?
45.1% of HD 422 is public land: 139,776 of its 310,176 acres. The largest share is national forest, 110,926 acres or 35.8% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 422 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 110,926 | 35.8% |
| State trust land | 25,683 | 8.3% |
| BLM | 3,152 | 1% |
| Other public | 60 | under 0.1% |
| FWP land | 15 | 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 422
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 422, 5,677 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Milford Colony (5,677 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 422?
FWP estimates 136 elk were harvested in HD 422 in 2025: 52 bulls, 84 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 740 hunters took 151 elk, about 20 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 | 136 | 52 | 84 | 0 | 14 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 151 | 61 | 87 | 3 | 26 | 740 | 4,379 | 20 |
| 2023 | 109 | 51 | 58 | 0 | 26 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 133 | 75 | 54 | 3 | 37 | 627 | 3,890 | 21 |
| 2021 | 140 | 42 | 98 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 145 | 57 | 85 | 2 | 30 | 517 | 3,108 | 28 |
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 422?
FWP estimates 306 deer were harvested in HD 422 in 2025: 119 mule deer and 187 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 714 deer hunters spent 4,040 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 306 | 119 | 187 | 183 | 123 | 126 | 714 | 4,040 |
| 2024 | 274 | 136 | 137 | 193 | 80 | 134 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 336 | 141 | 195 | 232 | 98 | 160 | 597 | 3,396 |
| 2022 | 199 | 80 | 119 | 144 | 55 | 122 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 224 | 91 | 134 | 144 | 76 | 102 | 462 | 2,469 |
| 2020 | 241 | 73 | 167 | 159 | 78 | 112 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 422 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 422:
| 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 | Not valid on National Forest Land. | ||||
| 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. |
| Elk B License: 422-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Late: Jan 1-Feb 15 | Not valid on National Forest Lands. | ||
| Elk B License: 422-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 200 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
When is deer season in HD 422 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 422 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29), mule deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29, outside the national forest boundary) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29, inside the national forest boundary).
| 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 | Either-sex Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid outside National Forest boundary. | ||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid inside National Forest boundary. | ||
| 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 422 before you go.
How do you get to HD 422?
Highways through the district: US 287 (about 8 miles inside it). Towns inside: Augusta.
Which districts border HD 422?
HD 422 touches 7 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 280 | North Blackfoot | 100% | 17 | 48 |
| HD 281 | Upper Blackfoot | 74.9% | 77 | 373 |
| HD 293 | South Lincoln-Nevada Creek | 56.1% | 231 | 242 |
| HD 421 | Birdtail Hills-South Dearborn | 11.4% | 184 | 800 |
| HD 424 | Benchmark | 98.2% | 4 | 99 |
| HD 425 | Sun River WMA | 42% | 98 | 203 |
| HD 444 | Lower Sun River | 16% | 22 | 592 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 422 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 422 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 98). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 422?
Augusta is inside the district.
Does HD 422 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 422: Milford Colony, 5,677 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 422?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 422 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
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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 280 HD 281 HD 293 HD 421 HD 424 HD 425 HD 444