Hunting District 515, Painted Robe: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 515 (Painted Robe) is 7.5% public land, most of it state trust land (101,352 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 340 elk and 1,095 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 968 elk hunters spent 6,815 days here and took 234 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 515Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 5, South-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,613,625 acres (2,521 square miles) |
| Public land | 7.5% (120,341 acres) |
| Block Management | 29 areas, 117,838 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 340 (185 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,095 (680 mule deer, 416 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 | Billings, Laurel, Lavina, Harlowton, Ryegate and Columbus |
HD 515 is 2,521 square miles of prairie between Harlowton, Lavina, Billings and the Yellowstone River near Columbus. FWP's harvest figures for it start in 2022. Big Lake WMA has 3,371 acres here, and 29 Block Management areas cover 117,838 acres.
How much public land is in HD 515?
7.5% of HD 515 is public land: 120,341 of its 1,613,625 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 101,352 acres or 6.3% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 515 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 101,352 | 6.3% |
| National wildlife refuge | 8,105 | 0.5% |
| BLM | 7,464 | 0.5% |
| Other public | 4,808 | 0.3% |
| FWP land | 3,407 | 0.2% |
| National forest | 13 | 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 515
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 29 areas in HD 515, 117,838 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Comanche Flats (18,542 acres, Type 1), Golden Valley Colony (17,858 acres, Type 2), Jim Lane Ranch (12,900 acres, Type 1), Lane Ranch (11,230 acres, Type 1) and Mj Jansen Livestock Inc (6,854 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 515: Big Lake WMA (3,371 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 515?
FWP estimates 340 elk were harvested in HD 515 in 2025: 185 bulls, 152 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 968 hunters took 234 elk, about 24 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 | 340 | 185 | 152 | 4 | 124 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 234 | 129 | 105 | 0 | 78 | 968 | 6,815 | 24 |
| 2023 | 268 | 151 | 108 | 9 | 80 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 264 | 168 | 92 | 4 | 114 | 971 | 7,136 | 27 |
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 515?
FWP estimates 1,095 deer were harvested in HD 515 in 2025: 680 mule deer and 416 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,329 deer hunters spent 12,505 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,095 | 680 | 416 | 889 | 197 | 564 | 2,329 | 12,505 |
| 2024 | 1,123 | 719 | 404 | 913 | 201 | 545 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,180 | 747 | 433 | 730 | 447 | 440 | 2,337 | 13,017 |
| 2022 | 1,165 | 809 | 356 | 794 | 364 | 474 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 515 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 515:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 | Only valid on private land. | ||||
| General Elk License | Either-sex Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | |||||
| Elk B License: 005-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 | Only valid on private land. | ||
| Elk B License: 005-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | Unlimited | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 |
When is deer season in HD 515 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 515 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 | |||
| General Deer License | Either-sex Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 10-15. Only valid on private land. | ||
| Deer B License: 005-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 4,500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid in all R5 HDs. |
| Deer B License: 515-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 108, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 515 before you go.
How do you get to HD 515?
Highways through the district: I-90 (about 63 miles inside it), MT 3 (about 44 miles inside it), US 191 (about 42 miles inside it), US 12 (about 42 miles inside it) and US 212 (about 21 miles inside it). Towns inside: Billings, Laurel, Lavina, Broadview, Rapelje and Acton. Nearby: Harlowton (on the line), Ryegate (on the line), Columbus (on the line) and Big Timber (on the line).
Which districts border HD 515?
HD 515 touches 7 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 502 | Crow Line | 10.4% | 70 | 952 |
| HD 525 | Beartooth-Absaroka | 63.8% | 421 | 1,198 |
| HD 535 | Southern Snowy Mountains | 17.5% | 482 | 571 |
| HD 540 | Southeast Little Belt Mountains | 33.5% | 205 | 281 |
| HD 575 | Absarokee | 4% | 245 | 1,145 |
| HD 580 | East Slope Crazy Mountains | 22.4% | 802 | 727 |
| HD 590 | Bull Mountains-Pine Ridge | 9.7% | 766 | 1,734 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 515 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 515 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 108). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 515?
Billings, Laurel and Lavina are inside the district. Just outside: Harlowton (on the line), Ryegate (on the line) and Columbus (on the line).
Does HD 515 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 29 areas covering 117,838 acres in HD 515: 25 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 4 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Comanche Flats at 18,542 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 515?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 515 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 515
Those portions of Golden Valley, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland and Yellowstone Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Harlowton, then east along US Highway 12 to Lavina, then south along State Route 3 to Interstate 90 at Billings, Then westerly along said route to the Yellowstone River Bridge near Columbus. Then westerly along the north bank of the Yellowstone River to US Highway 191, then north on said highway to Harlowton, 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 108.
- 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 5 HD 502 HD 525 HD 535 HD 540 HD 575 HD 580 HD 590