Hunting District 471, Geraldine: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 471 (Geraldine) is 19.2% public land, most of it state trust land (59,200 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 15 elk and 329 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 99 elk hunters spent 693 days here and took 9 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
BLMState trust landFWP landOther publicHD 471Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 4, North-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 481,219 acres (752 square miles) |
| Public land | 19.2% (92,240 acres) |
| Block Management | 4 areas, 12,748 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 15 (11 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 329 (284 mule deer, 45 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Elk of either sex |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Geraldine, Fort Benton and Big Sandy |
HD 471 runs from Fort Benton down the south side of the Missouri River to Arrow Creek, with MT 80 through Geraldine. FWP notes elk will be hard to find. Of the 329 deer FWP estimated were taken here in 2025, 284 were mule deer.
How much public land is in HD 471?
19.2% of HD 471 is public land: 92,240 of its 481,219 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 59,200 acres or 12.3% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 471 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 59,200 | 12.3% |
| BLM | 32,720 | 6.8% |
| FWP land | 320 | 0.1% |
| Other public | 35 | 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 471
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas in HD 471, 12,748 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Moline Ranch (4,924 acres, Type 2), Ap-Pn Ranch (4,676 acres, Type 2), Flat Creek (2,905 acres, Type 1) and Tureck (244 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 471?
FWP estimates 15 elk were harvested in HD 471 in 2025: 11 bulls, 4 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 99 hunters took 9 elk, about 9 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 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 99 | 693 | 9 |
| 2023 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 9 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 36 | 20 | 17 | 0 | 13 | 63 | 277 | 57 |
| 2021 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 19 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 65 | 261 | 11 |
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 471?
FWP estimates 329 deer were harvested in HD 471 in 2025: 284 mule deer and 45 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 640 deer hunters spent 5,298 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 329 | 284 | 45 | 296 | 29 | 191 | 640 | 5,298 |
| 2024 | 511 | 422 | 89 | 452 | 59 | 288 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 510 | 436 | 74 | 443 | 67 | 334 | 813 | 3,669 |
| 2022 | 465 | 408 | 57 | 380 | 84 | 281 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 482 | 423 | 59 | 392 | 89 | 292 | 771 | 3,574 |
| 2020 | 498 | 453 | 45 | 437 | 61 | 346 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 471 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 471:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Either-sex 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 471 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 471 allows white-tailed deer of either sex (Oct 24-Nov 29) and mule deer bucks (Oct 24-Nov 15).
| 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 15 | ||||
| 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: 471-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
| Deer Permit: 471-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer | April 1 | 80 | Nov 16-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
FWP's notes for HD 471: Elk numbers are low and elk will be difficult to find.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 107, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 471 before you go.
How do you get to HD 471?
Highways through the district: MT 80 (about 29 miles inside it). Nearby: Geraldine (on the line), Fort Benton (on the line), Big Sandy (10 miles) and Denton (11 miles).
Which districts border HD 471?
HD 471 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 400 | Lower Marias River | 12.8% | 27 | 1,091 |
| HD 405 | Carter | 7.1% | 18 | 794 |
| HD 419 | Stanford | 10.4% | 58 | 505 |
| HD 426 | Winifred | 20.8% | 122 | 448 |
| HD 447 | Belt-Square Butte | 21.2% | 277 | 807 |
| HD 690 | South Hill-Blaine-Chouteau | 18.5% | 349 | 1,544 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 471 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 471 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 107). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 471?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Geraldine (on the line), Fort Benton (on the line) and Big Sandy (10 miles).
Does HD 471 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 4 areas covering 12,748 acres in HD 471: 1 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 3 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Moline Ranch at 4,924 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 471?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 471 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 471
Those portions of Chouteau and Fergus Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Missouri River at Fort Benton, then northerly and easterly down the Missouri River to the mouth of Arrow Creek, then southerly and westerly up said creek to State Route 80, then northwesterly along said route through Geraldine to the Missouri River at Fort Benton, 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 107.
- 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 400 HD 405 HD 419 HD 426 HD 447 HD 690