Hunting District 424, Benchmark: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 424 (Benchmark) is 98.2% public land, most of it national forest (59,592 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 4 elk and 99 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 279 elk hunters spent 1,391 days here and took 29 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestFWP landHD 424Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 60,705 acres (95 square miles) |
| Public land | 98.2% (59,596 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 4 (4 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 99 (37 mule deer, 62 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 20 miles |
HD 424 is the Benchmark country on the Rocky Mountain Front west of Augusta: 95 square miles, 98.2% national forest, east of the South Fork of the Sun River. The General Elk License covers antlerless elk October 24 to 27 and brow-tined bulls from October 28.
How much public land is in HD 424?
98.2% of HD 424 is public land: 59,596 of its 60,705 acres. The largest share is national forest, 59,592 acres or 98.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 424 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 59,592 | 98.2% |
| FWP land | 4 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
How many elk are harvested in HD 424?
FWP estimates 4 elk were harvested in HD 424 in 2025: 4 bulls, 0 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 279 hunters took 29 elk, about 10 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 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 29 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 279 | 1,391 | 10 |
| 2023 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 28 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 210 | 1,099 | 13 |
| 2021 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 228 | 1,703 | 14 |
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 424?
FWP estimates 99 deer were harvested in HD 424 in 2025: 37 mule deer and 62 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 217 deer hunters spent 1,328 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99 | 37 | 62 | 55 | 44 | 34 | 217 | 1,328 |
| 2024 | 51 | 36 | 15 | 39 | 12 | 25 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 39 | 32 | 7 | 39 | 0 | 25 | 168 | 861 |
| 2022 | 52 | 29 | 23 | 33 | 19 | 23 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 4 | 15 | 175 | 1,273 |
| 2020 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 7 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 424 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 424:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Oct 24-Oct 27 | |||||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 28-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 | 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 424 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 424 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. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 99, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 424 before you go.
How do you get to HD 424?
No numbered highway crosses the district.
Which districts border HD 424?
HD 424 touches 3 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 422 | North Dearborn | 45.1% | 136 | 306 |
| HD 425 | Sun River WMA | 42% | 98 | 203 |
| HD 442 | Sun River | 98.9% | 44 | 94 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 424 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls in HD 424 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 99). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 424?
No town lies inside HD 424, and none is within 20 miles of its boundary in the Census Bureau's list of places.
Does HD 424 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 424.
Where is FWP's map of HD 424?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 424 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 424
That portion of Lewis and Clark county lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Cutrock Creek and the crest of Lime Ridge, then southerly and westerly along the divide between Beaver Creek and Willow Creek to Fairview Mountain, then northerly and westerly along said divide to Renshaw Mountain, then northerly along the divide between the Lange Creek drainage and the Bighead-Benchmark Creek drainages to the divide between Bighead Creek and Windfall Creek, then westerly along said divide immediately south and west of Windfall Creek to the South Fork of the Sun River, then south along the east bank of the South Fork of the Sun River (the eastern border of the Sun River Game Preserve) to USFS trail 248, then easterly along said trail to USFS trail 212, then southerly along said trail to USFS 232 (Crown Creek trail), then easterly along said trail to USFS Trail 270 (Crown Mountain trail), then northerly along said trail to Ford Creek, then down Ford Creek to the USFS boundary, then northerly along said boundary to the Benchmark road, then northerly along said road to the junction with the Beaver/Willow road, then westerly along Beaver/Willow road approximately 1/3 of a mile to the USFS boundary, then northerly along said boundary to the crest of Lime Ridge, then northerly along said crest to Cutrock Creek, 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 99.
- 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.