Hunting District 450, Choteau: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 450 (Choteau) is 23.5% public land, most of it state trust land (41,602 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 53 elk and 227 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 358 elk hunters spent 2,231 days here and took 44 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 450Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 260,385 acres (407 square miles) |
| Public land | 23.5% (61,277 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 1,283 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 53 (28 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 227 (112 mule deer, 115 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | 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 | Choteau and Fairfield |
HD 450 lies west of Choteau between the Teton and Sun rivers, out to the national forest boundary on the Rocky Mountain Front. Ear Mountain WMA has 3,053 acres here and is closed December 2 to May 15. State trust land is 16% of the district.
How much public land is in HD 450?
23.5% of HD 450 is public land: 61,277 of its 260,385 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 41,602 acres or 16% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 450 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 41,602 | 16% |
| BLM | 11,953 | 4.6% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 4,371 | 1.7% |
| FWP land | 3,040 | 1.2% |
| National forest | 311 | 0.1% |
| Other public | 62 | 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 450
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 450, 1,283 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Eagle Point (1,283 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 450: Ear Mountain WMA (3,053 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 450?
FWP estimates 53 elk were harvested in HD 450 in 2025: 28 bulls, 26 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 358 hunters took 44 elk, about 12 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 | 53 | 28 | 26 | 0 | 18 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 44 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 14 | 358 | 2,231 | 12 |
| 2023 | 61 | 30 | 31 | 0 | 15 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 89 | 47 | 36 | 7 | 34 | 322 | 1,977 | 28 |
| 2021 | 37 | 4 | 33 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 35 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 184 | 1,329 | 19 |
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 450?
FWP estimates 227 deer were harvested in HD 450 in 2025: 112 mule deer and 115 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 584 deer hunters spent 3,678 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 227 | 112 | 115 | 174 | 54 | 99 | 584 | 3,678 |
| 2024 | 254 | 114 | 140 | 173 | 81 | 129 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 281 | 125 | 156 | 183 | 98 | 133 | 541 | 2,843 |
| 2022 | 265 | 129 | 136 | 174 | 86 | 113 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 165 | 89 | 76 | 118 | 43 | 74 | 348 | 1,865 |
| 2020 | 172 | 90 | 82 | 113 | 58 | 69 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 450 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 450:
| 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 | 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 | 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 450 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 450 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer of either sex (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 | Either-sex 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 450: Ear Mountain WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840. Ear Mountain WMA closed Dec 02 - May 15.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 105, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 450 before you go.
How do you get to HD 450?
Highways through the district: US 89 (about 4 miles inside it). Nearby: Choteau (on the line) and Fairfield (13 miles).
Which districts border HD 450?
HD 450 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 404 | Lower Teton River | 7.5% | 3 | 994 |
| HD 425 | Sun River WMA | 42% | 98 | 203 |
| HD 441 | North Fork Birch Creek-Teton | 37.9% | 123 | 243 |
| HD 442 | Sun River | 98.9% | 44 | 94 |
| HD 444 | Lower Sun River | 16% | 22 | 592 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 450 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 450 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 105). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 450?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Choteau (on the line) and Fairfield (13 miles).
Does HD 450 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 450: Eagle Point, 1,283 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 450?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 450 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 450
That portion of Teton County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Choteau then westerly along US Highway 89 to its junction with the Teton River Road, then westerly along said road to the US Forest Service Boundary, then southerly along said boundary to its junction with the Sun River, then eastly along said river to its junction with the bridge on Highway 287, then northly along said Highway to Choteau, 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 105.
- 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.