Hunting District 441, North Fork Birch Creek-Teton: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 441 (North Fork Birch Creek-Teton) is 37.9% public land, most of it national forest (92,107 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 123 elk and 243 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 577 elk hunters spent 3,846 days here and took 98 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 441Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 380,987 acres (595 square miles) |
| Public land | 37.9% (144,306 acres) |
| Block Management | 3 areas, 24,499 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 123 (48 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 243 (99 mule deer, 144 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk and 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 | Bynum, Choteau, Valier and Conrad |
HD 441 is the Rocky Mountain Front from Birch Creek south to the Teton River, from US 89 west to the Continental Divide, around Bynum. Blackleaf WMA has 10,754 acres here. Inside the Bob Marshall Wilderness the General Elk License allows a brow-tined bull or an antlerless elk; an either-sex elk takes permit 441-20.
How much public land is in HD 441?
37.9% of HD 441 is public land: 144,306 of its 380,987 acres. The largest share is national forest, 92,107 acres or 24.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 441 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 92,107 | 24.2% |
| State trust land | 32,677 | 8.6% |
| FWP land | 10,848 | 2.8% |
| BLM | 7,629 | 2% |
| National wildlife refuge | 1,045 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 101 | 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 441
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas in HD 441, 24,499 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Rockport Colony (13,382 acres, Type 1), Boone And Crockett (6,067 acres, Type 2) and Birch Creek Colony (5,050 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 441: Blackleaf WMA (10,754 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 441?
FWP estimates 123 elk were harvested in HD 441 in 2025: 48 bulls, 75 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 577 hunters took 98 elk, about 17 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 | 123 | 48 | 75 | 0 | 44 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 98 | 30 | 65 | 3 | 24 | 577 | 3,846 | 17 |
| 2023 | 75 | 25 | 48 | 3 | 17 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 64 | 22 | 42 | 0 | 19 | 401 | 2,924 | 16 |
| 2021 | 73 | 27 | 42 | 4 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 69 | 27 | 42 | 0 | 14 | 451 | 3,300 | 15 |
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 441?
FWP estimates 243 deer were harvested in HD 441 in 2025: 99 mule deer and 144 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 532 deer hunters spent 3,236 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 243 | 99 | 144 | 191 | 49 | 144 | 532 | 3,236 |
| 2024 | 274 | 125 | 149 | 192 | 82 | 159 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 332 | 147 | 185 | 223 | 102 | 161 | 631 | 3,567 |
| 2022 | 232 | 71 | 161 | 164 | 68 | 127 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 213 | 77 | 137 | 156 | 58 | 124 | 526 | 3,273 |
| 2020 | 247 | 83 | 164 | 157 | 91 | 121 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 441 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 441:
| 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 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid in Bob Marshall Wilderness. | ||
| General Elk License | Either-sex Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Only valid outside the Bob Marshall Wilderness. | ||||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Late: Jan 1-Feb 15 | Not valid on National Forest Lands or FWP WMAs. | ||||
| Elk B License: 004-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 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 Permit: 441-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 35 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | 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 441 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 441 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29), mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 29, inside the national forest boundary) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 8).
| 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 | 5 week general season. | ||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid within National Forest boundary. | |||
| General Deer License | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 8 | 2 week general season. | |||
| 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 Permit: 441-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 35 | Nov 9-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 441: Blackleaf WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840. Blackleaf WMA closed Dec 02 - May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 101, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 441 before you go.
How do you get to HD 441?
Highways through the district: US 89 (about 9 miles inside it). Towns inside: Bynum. Nearby: Choteau (5 miles), Valier (13 miles) and Conrad (19 miles).
Which districts border HD 441?
HD 441 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 150 | Upper South Fork | 100% | 47 | 44 |
| HD 404 | Lower Teton River | 7.5% | 3 | 994 |
| HD 406 | Upper Marias-Dupuyer | 9% | 7 | 445 |
| HD 415 | Summit-North Fork Birch Creek | 97.7% | 18 | 34 |
| HD 442 | Sun River | 98.9% | 44 | 94 |
| HD 450 | Choteau | 23.5% | 53 | 227 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 441 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 441 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 101). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 441?
Bynum is inside the district. Just outside: Choteau (5 miles), Valier (13 miles) and Conrad (19 miles).
Does HD 441 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 3 areas covering 24,499 acres in HD 441: 2 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Rockport Colony at 13,382 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 441?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 441 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 441
Those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation boundary on US Highway 89, then southerly on said highway to the junction of County Road 144 near Choteau, then westerly on said road to West Fork Teton and USFS Trail 114, then westerly along said trail to Teton Pass on the Continental Divide, then northerly along said divide to Badger Pass and USFS Trail 121, then easterly along said trail to Swift Dam, then north and east along the Blackfeet Indian Reservation boundary to US Highway 89, 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 101.
- 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 150 HD 404 HD 406 HD 415 HD 442 HD 450