Hunting District 445, Hound Creek: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 445 (Hound Creek) is 12% public land, most of it state trust land (31,814 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 521 elk and 879 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 847 elk hunters spent 5,200 days here and took 350 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 445Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 445,079 acres (695 square miles) |
| Public land | 12% (53,193 acres) |
| Block Management | 12 areas, 77,721 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 521 (181 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 879 (221 mule deer, 658 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk (not on Beartooth WMA), elk of either sex and antlerless elk |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Cascade, Ulm, Craig and Great Falls |
HD 445 lies between the Missouri River and the Smith River south of Great Falls, around Cascade, Ulm and Craig. Beartooth WMA has 3,417 acres in it. FWP estimated 521 elk were taken here in 2025, the most since 2020. From November 9 the General Elk License covers antlerless elk only, and an either-sex elk takes permit 445-20.
How much public land is in HD 445?
12% of HD 445 is public land: 53,193 of its 445,079 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 31,814 acres or 7.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 445 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 31,814 | 7.1% |
| BLM | 16,825 | 3.8% |
| FWP land | 4,237 | 1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 211 | under 0.1% |
| Other public | 203 | under 0.1% |
| National forest | 106 | 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 445
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 12 areas in HD 445, 77,721 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Sieben Live Stock (Main Ranch & Taylor Field) (53,493 acres, Type 2), Lane Elk Ridge (12,473 acres, Type 1), Leveque Ranch (2,236 acres, Type 2), Bird Creek Ranch (2,221 acres, Type 2) and Spring Valley Simmental (1,967 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 445: Beartooth WMA (3,417 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 445?
FWP estimates 521 elk were harvested in HD 445 in 2025: 181 bulls, 341 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 847 hunters took 350 elk, about 41 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 | 521 | 181 | 341 | 0 | 131 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 350 | 147 | 187 | 16 | 100 | 847 | 5,200 | 41 |
| 2023 | 382 | 170 | 213 | 0 | 135 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 266 | 137 | 123 | 7 | 106 | 720 | 3,777 | 37 |
| 2021 | 330 | 157 | 169 | 4 | 106 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 311 | 143 | 161 | 7 | 104 | 794 | 4,632 | 39 |
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 445?
FWP estimates 879 deer were harvested in HD 445 in 2025: 221 mule deer and 658 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,281 deer hunters spent 6,561 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 879 | 221 | 658 | 486 | 386 | 342 | 1,281 | 6,561 |
| 2024 | 1,026 | 319 | 707 | 600 | 417 | 382 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 790 | 242 | 548 | 470 | 310 | 307 | 1,225 | 6,216 |
| 2022 | 815 | 249 | 565 | 487 | 324 | 347 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 821 | 283 | 538 | 500 | 298 | 374 | 1,257 | 6,120 |
| 2020 | 828 | 236 | 593 | 390 | 429 | 301 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 445 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 445:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Oct 19-Oct 23 | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Not valid on Beartooth WMA. | |||
| General Elk License | Either-sex Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 8 | ||||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Nov 9-Nov 29 | |||||
| Elk B License: 004-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 19-Nov 29 | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 Late: Nov 30-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: 445-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 35 | Nov 9-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 445 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 445 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. |
| Deer B License: 445-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 25 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 103, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 445 before you go.
How do you get to HD 445?
Highways through the district: I-15 (about 27 miles inside it). Towns inside: Cascade, Ulm and Craig. Nearby: Great Falls (10 miles).
Which districts border HD 445?
HD 445 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 339 | Sieben-Sleeping Giant | 28.6% | 176 | 202 |
| HD 413 | Northwest Little Belt Mountains | 34.3% | 374 | 1,263 |
| HD 421 | Birdtail Hills-South Dearborn | 11.4% | 184 | 800 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
| HD 455 | Beartooth WMA | 99.6% | 124 | 35 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 445 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk (not on Beartooth WMA), elk of either sex and antlerless elk in HD 445 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 103). FWP also lists 2 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 445?
Cascade, Ulm and Craig are inside the district. Just outside: Great Falls (10 miles).
Does HD 445 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 12 areas covering 77,721 acres in HD 445: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 8 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Sieben Live Stock (Main Ranch & Taylor Field) at 53,493 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 445?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 445 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 445
Those portions of Cascade, Lewis and Clark, and Meagher Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Ulm from the junction of Millegan Road and Interstate-15, then south on Millegan Road to Ulm Bridge then southeasterly down the south bank of the Missouri River to the mouth of the Smith River, then southerly up the west bank of said river to the mouth of Two Creek, then westerly up said creek to the divide between Trout Creek and Black Canyon/Rock Creek, then westerly along said divide to the Hound Creek-Rock Creek divide then westerly along said divide to the Beaver Creek-Hound Creek divide (Meagher and Lewis and Clark County line), then westerly along said divide to the posted Beartooth WMA boundary fence near Hump Cabin, then north and west along said WMA boundary fence, to Holter Lake, then down said lake and the east bank of the Missouri River to Rock Creek near Wolf Creek Bridge, then north along said creek to its intersection with Interstate-15, then on Interstate 15 to the intersection of Interstate 15 and Milligan Road, 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 103.
- 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.