Hunting District 580, East Slope Crazy Mountains: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 580 (East Slope Crazy Mountains) is 22.4% public land, most of it national forest (111,513 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 802 elk and 727 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters here, it counted them by part: 1,353 elk hunters in HD 580N and 477 elk hunters in HD 580S.
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 landOther publicHD 580Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 5, South-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 721,468 acres (1,127 square miles) |
| Public land | 22.4% (161,388 acres) |
| Block Management | 7 areas, 10,106 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 802 (330 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 727 (231 mule deer, 496 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 | Martinsdale, Twodot, Harlowton, Big Timber and Clyde Park |
HD 580 is the east side of the Crazy Mountains and the upper Musselshell, between Big Timber, Harlowton, Martinsdale and Ringling. FWP reports its elk harvest in two parts, 580N and 580S. The General Elk License allows elk of either sex.
How much public land is in HD 580?
22.4% of HD 580 is public land: 161,388 of its 721,468 acres. The largest share is national forest, 111,513 acres or 15.5% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 580 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 111,513 | 15.5% |
| State trust land | 48,224 | 6.7% |
| BLM | 1,366 | 0.2% |
| Other public | 710 | 0.1% |
| FWP land | 285 | 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 580
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 7 areas in HD 580, 10,106 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: New Dorsey (3,592 acres, Type 1), Arthun Ranches (2,741 acres, Type 1), Bair Ranch Foundation (1,767 acres, Type 2), Willems Ranch (644 acres, Type 1) and Little Granny Ranch (521 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 580?
FWP estimates 802 elk were harvested in HD 580 in 2025: 330 bulls, 458 cows and 15 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters here in 2024, by part: HD 580N, 1,353 hunters and 482 elk and HD 580S, 477 hunters and 198 elk.
| Year | Elk harvested | Bulls | Cows | Calves | Bulls 6 points or more | Elk hunters | Hunter days | Elk per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (580N + 580S) | 802 | 330 | 458 | 15 | 202 | by part | by part | |
| 2024 (580N + 580S) | 680 | 266 | 401 | 14 | 154 | by part | by part | |
| 2023 (580N + 580S) | 810 | 395 | 412 | 3 | 189 | by part | by part | |
| 2022 (580N + 580S) | 677 | 357 | 314 | 7 | 181 | by part | by part | |
| 2021 (580N + 580S) | 604 | 241 | 343 | 19 | 123 | by part | by part | |
| 2020 (580N + 580S) | 557 | 235 | 299 | 23 | 98 | by part | by part |
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. For 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, FWP reports HD 580's elk harvest in parts (580N and 580S) and prints no line for the whole district; the harvest shown for those years is the parts added together. Hunters are not added, because one hunter can hunt more than one part.
How many deer are harvested in HD 580?
FWP estimates 727 deer were harvested in HD 580 in 2025: 231 mule deer and 496 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,399 deer hunters spent 7,790 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 727 | 231 | 496 | 458 | 266 | 329 | 1,399 | 7,790 |
| 2024 | 805 | 217 | 588 | 556 | 248 | 387 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 817 | 204 | 613 | 507 | 306 | 371 | 1,145 | 5,774 |
| 2022 | 741 | 226 | 515 | 516 | 222 | 378 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 666 | 197 | 469 | 419 | 247 | 316 | 1,137 | 5,129 |
| 2020 | 931 | 224 | 707 | 508 | 419 | 382 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 580 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 580:
| 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 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Not valid on National Forest Lands. |
When is deer season in HD 580 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 580 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: 580-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 111, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 580 before you go.
How do you get to HD 580?
Highways through the district: US 12 (about 22 miles inside it), MT 371 (about 16 miles inside it) and US 89 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Martinsdale and Twodot. Nearby: Harlowton (on the line), Big Timber (on the line), Clyde Park (13 miles) and White Sulphur Springs (15 miles).
Which districts border HD 580?
HD 580 touches 7 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 451 | Southeast Big Belt Mountains | 17.3% | 39 | 46 |
| HD 452 | Castle Mountains | 38.6% | 299 | 345 |
| HD 515 | Painted Robe | 7.5% | 340 | 1,095 |
| HD 525 | Beartooth-Absaroka | 63.8% | 421 | 1,198 |
| HD 540 | Southeast Little Belt Mountains | 33.5% | 205 | 281 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 580 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 580 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 111). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 580?
Martinsdale and Twodot are inside the district. Just outside: Harlowton (on the line), Big Timber (on the line) and Clyde Park (13 miles).
Does HD 580 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 7 areas covering 10,106 acres in HD 580: 6 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is New Dorsey at 3,592 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 580?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 580 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 580
Those portions of Meagher, Park, Sweet Grass and Wheatland Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of Sixteenmile Creek and US Highway 89 at Ringling, then north along said highway to Route 294, then east along said route to US Highway 12, then east along said highway to Harlowtown, then south along US Highway 191 to the north bank of the Yellowstone River, then west up the north bank of said river to Duck Creek, then north up said creek to the West Fork of Duck Creek, then northwest up said creek to Crazy Mountain Divide near Fairview Peak, then north and west along said divide to the head of Sixteenmile Creek, then west along said creek to 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 111.
- 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 315 HD 390 HD 451 HD 452 HD 515 HD 525 HD 540