Hunting District 452, Castle Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 452 (Castle Mountains) is 38.6% public land, most of it national forest (69,692 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 299 elk and 345 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,349 elk hunters spent 8,575 days here and took 334 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 landOther publicHD 452Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 216,489 acres (338 square miles) |
| Public land | 38.6% (83,646 acres) |
| Block Management | 5 areas, 14,468 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 299 (173 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 345 (232 mule deer, 113 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk (not on national forest lands 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 |
HD 452 is the Castle Mountains east of White Sulphur Springs, inside US 12, US 89 and MT 294. The General Elk License allows a brow-tined bull or an antlerless elk, plus antlerless elk October 19 to 23 off national forest land and FWP WMAs.
How much public land is in HD 452?
38.6% of HD 452 is public land: 83,646 of its 216,489 acres. The largest share is national forest, 69,692 acres or 32.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 452 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 69,692 | 32.2% |
| State trust land | 13,357 | 6.2% |
| BLM | 597 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 166 | 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 452
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas in HD 452, 14,468 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Catlin Ranch (5,501 acres, Type 1), Bair Ranch Foundation (3,981 acres, Type 2), Checkerboard Creek (2,343 acres, Type 2), Townsend Ranch (1,915 acres, Type 1) and South Fork (727 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 452?
FWP estimates 299 elk were harvested in HD 452 in 2025: 173 bulls, 119 cows and 7 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,349 hunters took 334 elk, about 25 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 | 299 | 173 | 119 | 7 | 71 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 334 | 141 | 179 | 15 | 68 | 1,349 | 8,575 | 25 |
| 2023 | 284 | 122 | 160 | 3 | 54 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 360 | 178 | 181 | 0 | 88 | 1,366 | 7,631 | 26 |
| 2021 | 335 | 146 | 170 | 19 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 414 | 187 | 223 | 4 | 78 | 1,498 | 8,386 | 28 |
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 452?
FWP estimates 345 deer were harvested in HD 452 in 2025: 232 mule deer and 113 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 962 deer hunters spent 6,026 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 345 | 232 | 113 | 281 | 61 | 157 | 962 | 6,026 |
| 2024 | 351 | 211 | 139 | 269 | 82 | 162 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 254 | 161 | 93 | 194 | 57 | 116 | 830 | 5,002 |
| 2022 | 301 | 148 | 152 | 234 | 67 | 146 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 312 | 190 | 123 | 254 | 58 | 148 | 795 | 4,337 |
| 2020 | 260 | 111 | 149 | 179 | 78 | 101 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 452 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 452:
| 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 lands 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 452 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 452 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 106, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 452 before you go.
How do you get to HD 452?
Highways through the district: US 12 (about 20 miles inside it) and US 89 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: White Sulphur Springs.
Which districts border HD 452?
HD 452 touches 5 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 416 | Southwest Little Belt Mountains | 47.4% | 563 | 501 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
| HD 451 | Southeast Big Belt Mountains | 17.3% | 39 | 46 |
| HD 540 | Southeast Little Belt Mountains | 33.5% | 205 | 281 |
| HD 580 | East Slope Crazy Mountains | 22.4% | 802 | 727 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 452 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk (not on national forest lands or FWP WMAs) and brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk in HD 452 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 106). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 452?
White Sulphur Springs is inside the district.
Does HD 452 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 5 areas covering 14,468 acres in HD 452: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Catlin Ranch at 5,501 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 452?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 452 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 452
That portion of Meagher County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of US Highways 89 and 12 northeast of White Sulphur Springs, then easterly on US Highway 12 to its intersection with Route 294 north of Martinsdale, then southwesterly along said route to its intersection with US Highway 89 north of Ringling, then northerly along said highway through White Sulphur Springs to its intersection with US Highway 12, 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 106.
- 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.