Hunting District 442, Sun River: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 442 (Sun River) is 98.9% public land, most of it national forest (186,990 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 44 elk and 94 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 550 elk hunters spent 3,920 days here and took 58 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestBLMFWP landHD 442Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 190,644 acres (298 square miles) |
| Public land | 98.9% (188,545 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 44 (38 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 94 (27 mule deer, 67 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 27 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 20 miles |
HD 442 is the Sun River country west of the Sun River WMA: 98.1% national forest, with no numbered highway. From October 28 FWP sets a quota of 50 antlerless or brow-tined bull elk on the General Elk License, counted through the Augusta check station.
How much public land is in HD 442?
98.9% of HD 442 is public land: 188,545 of its 190,644 acres. The largest share is national forest, 186,990 acres or 98.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 442 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 186,990 | 98.1% |
| BLM | 1,540 | 0.8% |
| FWP land | 15 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside FWP's district boundary from Montana Cadastral Public Lands, Montana State Library, published 2026.
Wildlife management area in HD 442: Sun River WMA (1,072 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 442?
FWP estimates 44 elk were harvested in HD 442 in 2025: 38 bulls, 7 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 550 hunters took 58 elk, about 11 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 | 44 | 38 | 7 | 0 | 20 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 58 | 32 | 26 | 0 | 23 | 550 | 3,920 | 11 |
| 2023 | 52 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 32 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 98 | 69 | 25 | 3 | 29 | 512 | 3,226 | 19 |
| 2021 | 92 | 63 | 29 | 0 | 29 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 103 | 68 | 29 | 7 | 47 | 690 | 4,055 | 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 442?
FWP estimates 94 deer were harvested in HD 442 in 2025: 27 mule deer and 67 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 410 deer hunters spent 2,463 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 94 | 27 | 67 | 55 | 39 | 31 | 410 | 2,463 |
| 2024 | 116 | 37 | 79 | 82 | 34 | 49 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 133 | 50 | 83 | 93 | 37 | 64 | 449 | 2,913 |
| 2022 | 112 | 22 | 90 | 68 | 45 | 58 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 121 | 51 | 70 | 106 | 15 | 86 | 498 | 2,747 |
| 2020 | 149 | 53 | 96 | 103 | 46 | 73 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 442 in 2026?
Archery only: September 5 to October 18. General season: October 24 to 27, 2026. Every elk license and permit FWP lists for HD 442:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | |||||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Oct 24-Oct 27 | |||||
| General Elk License | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk | Oct 28-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Quota = 50 antlerless or brow-tined bull elk through the Augusta check station. If quota is reached, the antlerless elk season will close on 12-hour notice. The brow-tined bull season will remain open until the end of the general rifle and heritage muzzleloader seasons. | |||
| 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. |
| Elk B License: 442-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Valid in entire HD. | ||
| Elk B License: 442-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 25 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Until closed but no later than the end of the general rifle/ heritage muzzleloader seasons based on HD 442 elk quota. |
When is deer season in HD 442 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 442 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. |
FWP's notes for HD 442: Sun River WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840. Sun River WMA closed Dec 02 - May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 102, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 442 before you go.
How do you get to HD 442?
No numbered highway crosses the district.
Which districts border HD 442?
HD 442 touches 5 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 424 | Benchmark | 98.2% | 4 | 99 |
| HD 425 | Sun River WMA | 42% | 98 | 203 |
| HD 441 | North Fork Birch Creek-Teton | 37.9% | 123 | 243 |
| HD 450 | Choteau | 23.5% | 53 | 227 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 442 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk and brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 442 during the general season, October 24 to 27, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 102). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 442?
No town lies inside HD 442, and none is within 20 miles of its boundary in the Census Bureau's list of places.
Does HD 442 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 442.
Where is FWP's map of HD 442?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 442 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 102.
- 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.