Hunting District 451, Southeast Big Belt Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 451 (Southeast Big Belt Mountains) is 17.3% public land, most of it state trust land (9,071 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 39 elk and 46 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 224 elk hunters spent 1,689 days here and took 49 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 landHD 451Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 90,779 acres (142 square miles) |
| Public land | 17.3% (15,735 acres) |
| Block Management | 1 area, 2,933 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 39 (14 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 46 (42 mule deer, 3 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk (not on national forest Land or FWP WMAs) 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 | White Sulphur Springs and Townsend |
HD 451 is the southeast end of the Big Belt Mountains south of White Sulphur Springs, between US 89, US 12 and Sixteenmile Creek. At 142 square miles it is one of Region 4's smallest districts.
How much public land is in HD 451?
17.3% of HD 451 is public land: 15,735 of its 90,779 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 9,071 acres or 10% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 451 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 9,071 | 10% |
| National forest | 5,676 | 6.3% |
| BLM | 988 | 1.1% |
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 451
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 451, 2,933 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. It is Catlin Ranch (2,933 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 451?
FWP estimates 39 elk were harvested in HD 451 in 2025: 14 bulls, 26 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 224 hunters took 49 elk, about 22 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 | 39 | 14 | 26 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 49 | 19 | 30 | 0 | 16 | 224 | 1,689 | 22 |
| 2023 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 9 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 50 | 17 | 30 | 3 | 12 | 167 | 1,043 | 30 |
| 2021 | 44 | 28 | 16 | 0 | 18 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 47 | 27 | 17 | 4 | 13 | 234 | 1,321 | 20 |
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 451?
FWP estimates 46 deer were harvested in HD 451 in 2025: 42 mule deer and 3 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 144 deer hunters spent 1,358 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | 42 | 3 | 42 | 3 | 21 | 144 | 1,358 |
| 2024 | 49 | 30 | 20 | 45 | 5 | 23 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 39 | 23 | 17 | 26 | 13 | 10 | 104 | 621 |
| 2022 | 29 | 16 | 13 | 23 | 7 | 13 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 101 | 499 |
| 2020 | 36 | 10 | 27 | 26 | 10 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 451 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 451:
| 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 National Forest Land or FWP WMAs. | |||
| 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 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. |
When is deer season in HD 451 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 451 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 105, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 451 before you go.
How do you get to HD 451?
Highways through the district: US 12 (about 9 miles inside it) and US 89 (about 7 miles inside it). Nearby: White Sulphur Springs (9 miles) and Townsend (19 miles).
Which districts border HD 451?
HD 451 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 315 | West Slope Crazy Mountains | 20.4% | 389 | 631 |
| HD 390 | Sixteenmile Creek | 9.8% | 162 | 233 |
| HD 391 | Dry Creek-Avalanche | 39.3% | 313 | 677 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
| HD 452 | Castle Mountains | 38.6% | 299 | 345 |
| HD 580 | East Slope Crazy Mountains | 22.4% | 802 | 727 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 451 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk (not on national forest Land or FWP WMAs) and brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 451 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 451?
No town is inside it. The nearest are White Sulphur Springs (9 miles) and Townsend (19 miles).
Does HD 451 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows one area in HD 451: Catlin Ranch, 2,933 acres, a Type 1 area, where hunters give themselves permission.
Where is FWP's map of HD 451?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 451 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 451
That portion of Meagher County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of US Highways 12 and 89 south of White Sulphur Springs, then southerly along Highway 89 to Sixteen-Mile Creek (near Ringling), then southwesterly along said creek to the Meagher-Gallatin County line, then west along said line to the Broadwater-Meagher County Line, then northerly along said line (Big Belt Mountains hydrological divide) to where said line intersects with US Highway 12, then northeasterly on said highway to junction with 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 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.
Montana hunting Region 4 HD 315 HD 390 HD 391 HD 446 HD 452 HD 580