Hunting District 455, Beartooth WMA: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 455 (Beartooth WMA) is 99.6% public land, most of it FWP land (31,689 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 124 elk and 35 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 317 elk hunters spent 2,227 days here and took 148 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 landHD 455Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 41,954 acres (66 square miles) |
| Public land | 99.6% (41,769 acres) |
| Block Management | None mapped for 2026 |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 124 (55 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 35 (19 mule deer, 16 white-tailed) |
| Bull elk | Elk Permit 455-20 (quota 55, apply by April 1) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Helena, East Helena and Cascade |
HD 455 is the Beartooth WMA and the national forest around it, on the east side of Holter Lake below the Gates of the Mountains: 66 square miles, 75.5% FWP land. Elk hunting is on permits and B licenses, and FWP's B licenses valid across Region 4 do not cover this district.
How much public land is in HD 455?
99.6% of HD 455 is public land: 41,769 of its 41,954 acres. The largest share is FWP land, 31,689 acres or 75.5% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 455 |
|---|---|---|
| FWP land | 31,689 | 75.5% |
| National forest | 9,722 | 23.2% |
| State trust land | 252 | 0.6% |
| BLM | 106 | 0.3% |
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.
Wildlife management area in HD 455: Beartooth WMA (31,604 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 455?
FWP estimates 124 elk were harvested in HD 455 in 2025: 55 bulls, 62 cows and 7 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 317 hunters took 148 elk, about 47 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 | 124 | 55 | 62 | 7 | 33 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 148 | 48 | 96 | 4 | 31 | 317 | 2,227 | 47 |
| 2023 | 101 | 29 | 71 | 0 | 20 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 154 | 56 | 98 | 0 | 31 | 291 | 1,910 | 53 |
| 2021 | 104 | 49 | 54 | 0 | 41 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 120 | 42 | 75 | 3 | 29 | 244 | 1,524 | 49 |
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 455?
FWP estimates 35 deer were harvested in HD 455 in 2025: 19 mule deer and 16 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 107 deer hunters spent 713 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 107 | 713 |
| 2024 | 34 | 6 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 17 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 31 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 0 | 24 | 73 | 401 |
| 2022 | 36 | 12 | 24 | 23 | 13 | 23 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 42 | 15 | 27 | 27 | 15 | 20 | 73 | 426 |
| 2020 | 36 | 10 | 26 | 25 | 10 | 19 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 455 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 455:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk B License: 455-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 250 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Successful 455-00 license holders may use General Elk License to harvest 2nd antlerless elk in HD 455. |
| Elk Permit: 455-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 55 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-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. |
| Elk Permit: 455-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 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 455 in 2026?
A mule deer buck in HD 455 needs a drawn permit: Deer Permit 455-60, quota 15, apply by April 1.
| 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 | |||||
| Deer B License: 455-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 20 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Deer Permit: 455-60 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 15 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. |
| Deer Permit: 455-60 | Either-sex White-tailed Deer | April 1 | 15 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. |
FWP's notes for HD 455: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Gates of the Mountains Game Preserve Special permit required to hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer. Special permit required to hunt either-sex White-tailed Deer during the rifle season. Beartooth WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840. Beartooth WMA closed Dec 02 - May 15.
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 455 before you go.
How do you get to HD 455?
No numbered highway crosses the district. Nearby: Helena (20 miles), East Helena (20 miles) and Cascade (20 miles).
Which districts border HD 455?
HD 455 touches 4 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 392 | Avalanche-Gates of the Mountains | 91.1% | 94 | 341 |
| HD 445 | Hound Creek | 12% | 521 | 879 |
| HD 446 | Northeast Big Belt Mountains | 23.1% | 294 | 295 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 455 on a general license?
Not on the General Elk License alone. FWP's 2026 table for HD 455 lists no General Elk License season here: elk hunting is on drawn permits and B licenses (regulations page 106). An elk of either sex takes Elk Permit 455-20 (quota 55, apply by April 1), used with the General Elk License.
What is the closest town to HD 455?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Helena (20 miles), East Helena (20 miles) and Cascade (20 miles).
Does HD 455 have Block Management?
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows no Block Management area in HD 455.
Where is FWP's map of HD 455?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 455 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 455
Those portions of Cascade and Lewis and Clark Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the mouth of Meriwether Canyon on the east side of the Missouri river, then northeasterly up the Meriwether Canyon-Mann Gulch divide to the Meriwether Canyon-Willow Creek divide, then northeasterly along said divide to Willow Mountain, then southeasterly along Slip Gulch-Meriwether Canyon-Big Log Gulch divide to Bear Prairie, then northeasterly along Candle Gulch-Hunters Gulch divide to Candle Mountain, then easterly along Willow Creek-Hunters Gulch-Moors Creek divide to Moors Mountain, then northeasterly along the Willow Creek-Elkhorn Creek-Porcupine Creek divide to the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area boundary, then east along said boundary to the east boundary fence of the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area near Hump Cabin, then north and west along said boundary fence, or posted HD boundary, to Holter Lake, then southerly up said lake and the east shore of the Missouri River to the mouth of Meriwether Canyon, 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.