Hunting District 590, Bull Mountains-Pine Ridge: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 590 (Bull Mountains-Pine Ridge) is 9.7% public land, most of it state trust land (96,969 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 766 elk and 1,734 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 2,494 elk hunters spent 18,625 days here and took 750 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 landNational wildlife refugeBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 590Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 5, South-central Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,866,620 acres (2,917 square miles) |
| Public land | 9.7% (181,844 acres) |
| Block Management | 16 areas, 48,420 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 766 (382 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,734 (1,003 mule deer, 731 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Spike 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 | Hardin, Roundup, Lockwood, Lavina, Broadview and Melstone |
HD 590 is the Bull Mountains and Pine Ridge country between Billings, Roundup and Hardin. Less than 10% of it is public land, mostly state trust land and BLM.
How much public land is in HD 590?
9.7% of HD 590 is public land: 181,844 of its 1,866,620 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 96,969 acres or 5.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 590 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 96,969 | 5.2% |
| BLM | 77,667 | 4.2% |
| Other public | 6,472 | 0.3% |
| FWP land | 4,914 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge | 1,749 | 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 545 | 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 590
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 16 areas in HD 590, 48,420 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Mountain View Colony (11,329 acres, Type 1), Basin Ranch (9,603 acres, Type 2), Erickson Farms (5,145 acres, Type 1), Pv Ranch (4,938 acres, Type 2) and Melville Ranch (3,850 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 590: Yellowstone WMA (4,407 acres here) and Grant Marsh WMA (529 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 590?
FWP estimates 766 elk were harvested in HD 590 in 2025: 382 bulls, 376 cows and 8 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 2,494 hunters took 750 elk, about 30 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 | 766 | 382 | 376 | 8 | 258 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 750 | 310 | 435 | 6 | 245 | 2,494 | 18,625 | 30 |
| 2023 | 651 | 300 | 345 | 6 | 223 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 712 | 323 | 360 | 30 | 230 | 2,283 | 16,649 | 31 |
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 590?
FWP estimates 1,734 deer were harvested in HD 590 in 2025: 1,003 mule deer and 731 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 3,919 deer hunters spent 24,766 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,734 | 1,003 | 731 | 1,367 | 359 | 903 | 3,919 | 24,766 |
| 2024 | 1,841 | 957 | 884 | 1,451 | 387 | 856 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,868 | 1,033 | 836 | 1,225 | 628 | 804 | 3,941 | 23,209 |
| 2022 | 2,039 | 1,034 | 1,004 | 1,302 | 716 | 902 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,895 | 1,001 | 894 | 1,206 | 689 | 738 | 3,920 | 24,128 |
| 2020 | 2,442 | 1,501 | 941 | 1,597 | 804 | 1,147 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 590 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 590:
| 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 | Spike Bull or Antlerless 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 | UNL | Early: Aug 15-Sep 4 | Only valid on private land. Valid in HD 590 and portion of HD 701 north of the Yellowstone River, south of Hwy 12, west of Sumatra-Hysham Rd. | ||
| Elk B License: 005-00 | Antlerless Elk | OTC: Jun 15 | UNL | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Valid in HD 590 and portion of HD 701 north of the Yellowstone River, south of Hwy 12, west of Sumatra-Hysham Rd. |
| Elk Permit: 590-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 380 | 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. Valid in HD 590 and a portion of HD 701 north of the Yellowstone River, south of Hwy 12, west of Sumatra-Hysham Rd. |
| Elk Permit: 595-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 1,800 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 1st and only choice. Valid in HDs 502, 535, 555, 590, and a portion of HD 701 north of the Yellowstone River, south of Hwy 12, west of Sumatra- Hysham Rd. 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 590 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 590 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: 590-00 | 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 112, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 590 before you go.
How do you get to HD 590?
Highways through the district: US 87 (about 162 miles inside it), I-94 (about 102 miles inside it), I-90 (about 93 miles inside it), US 212 (about 93 miles inside it) and US 12 (about 42 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hardin, Roundup, Lockwood, Klein, Musselshell and Shepherd. Nearby: Lavina (on the line), Broadview (on the line), Melstone (on the line) and Billings (on the line).
Which districts border HD 590?
HD 590 touches 5 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 515 | Painted Robe | 7.5% | 340 | 1,095 |
| HD 535 | Southern Snowy Mountains | 17.5% | 571 | |
| HD 701 | Sagebrush Prairie | 18.1% | 1,711 | |
| HD 702 | Yellowstone Pine Hills | 9.7% | 263 | 900 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 590 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows spike bulls or antlerless elk in HD 590 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 112). FWP also lists 3 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 590?
Hardin, Roundup and Lockwood are inside the district. Just outside: Lavina (on the line), Broadview (on the line) and Melstone (on the line).
Does HD 590 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 16 areas covering 48,420 acres in HD 590: 9 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 7 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Mountain View Colony at 11,329 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 590?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 590 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
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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 112.
- 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.