Hunting District 600, North Hill-Blaine: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 600 (North Hill-Blaine) is 20% public land, most of it BLM (198,053 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 22 elk and 1,054 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 154 elk hunters spent 771 days here and took 14 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 600Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 6, Northeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,959,118 acres (3,061 square miles) |
| Public land | 20% (391,423 acres) |
| Block Management | 19 areas, 284,033 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 22 (15 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,054 (783 mule deer, 272 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 | Harlem, Hingham, Inverness, Chinook, Havre and Chester |
HD 600 is the Hi-Line north of US 2 from the Liberty County line east to Harlem, up to the Canadian border: 3,061 square miles. Nineteen Block Management areas cover 284,033 acres. FWP's restricted-area descriptions include the Rookery WMA Weapons Restriction Area.
How much public land is in HD 600?
20% of HD 600 is public land: 391,423 of its 1,959,118 acres. The largest share is BLM, 198,053 acres or 10.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 600 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 198,053 | 10.1% |
| State trust land | 159,585 | 8.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 25,620 | 1.3% |
| FWP land | 5,836 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 2,773 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 2,329 | 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 600
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 19 areas in HD 600, 284,033 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: North Blaine (158,538 acres, Type 1), Woody Island (17,765 acres, Type 2), Hartland Colony (16,955 acres, Type 1), Harold Miller (14,548 acres, Type 1) and Vilicus Farms (11,665 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 600: Lost River WMA (3,706 acres here), Fresno Reservoir WMA (2,688 acres here), Rookery WMA (2,293 acres here) and Fresno Tailwater WMA (125 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 600?
FWP estimates 22 elk were harvested in HD 600 in 2025: 15 bulls, 7 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 154 hunters took 14 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 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 11 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 154 | 771 | 9 |
| 2023 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 105 | 566 | 21 |
| 2021 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 148 | 1,075 | 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 600?
FWP estimates 1,054 deer were harvested in HD 600 in 2025: 783 mule deer and 272 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,998 deer hunters spent 10,849 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,054 | 783 | 272 | 741 | 306 | 495 | 1,998 | 10,849 |
| 2024 | 1,396 | 865 | 531 | 921 | 472 | 626 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,551 | 1,021 | 530 | 835 | 703 | 610 | 2,398 | 14,035 |
| 2022 | 1,579 | 999 | 580 | 986 | 590 | 746 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,884 | 1,352 | 532 | 1,217 | 663 | 906 | 2,272 | 12,924 |
| 2020 | 1,902 | 1,281 | 622 | 1,227 | 660 | 953 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 600 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 600:
| 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 |
When is deer season in HD 600 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 600 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 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. | ||
| 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 | |||
| Deer B License: 006-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 2,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Up to two per hunter. Valid in all R6 HDs. |
| Deer B License: 600-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 500 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
FWP's notes for HD 600: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Rookery WMA Weapons Restriction Area
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 113, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 600 before you go.
How do you get to HD 600?
No numbered highway crosses the district. Towns inside: Harlem, Hingham, Inverness, Havre North, Gildford and Rudyard. Nearby: Chinook (on the line), Havre (on the line) and Chester (10 miles).
Which districts border HD 600?
HD 600 touches 4 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 401 | Sweet Grass Hills | 9.3% | 106 | 758 |
| HD 670 | North Phillips-Valley | 43.6% | 8 | 1,168 |
| HD 690 | South Hill-Blaine-Chouteau | 18.5% | 349 | 1,544 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 600 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 600 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 113).
What is the closest town to HD 600?
Harlem, Hingham and Inverness are inside the district. Just outside: Chinook (on the line), Havre (on the line) and Chester (10 miles).
Does HD 600 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 19 areas covering 284,033 acres in HD 600: 18 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 1 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is North Blaine at 158,538 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 600?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 600 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 600
Those portions of Hill and Blaine Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at a point where the Hill-Liberty County Line meets the Canadian border, then southerly along Hill-Liberty County Line to US Highway 2, three miles west of Inverness, then east along US Highway 2 to State Route 241 (Harlem-Turner Road) at Harlem, then northeasterly along said route to the Canadian border at the Port of Turner, then west along the Canadian border to the Hill-Liberty County Line, 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 113.
- 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.