Hunting District 620, South Phillips: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 620 (South Phillips) is 40.8% public land, most of it BLM (349,597 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 117 elk and 439 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 704 elk hunters spent 6,028 days here and took 128 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 620Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 6, Northeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,120,612 acres (1,751 square miles) |
| Public land | 40.8% (457,393 acres) |
| Block Management | 26 areas, 157,965 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 117 (76 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 439 (392 mule deer, 46 white-tailed) |
| Bull elk | Elk Permit 620-20 (quota 70, apply by April 1) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Malta, Dodson and Saco |
HD 620 lies south of US 2 around Malta and Dodson, down to Fort Peck Reservoir. BLM is 31.2% of it. Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is closed to big game hunting. Elk hunting is on permit 620-20 and B licenses.
How much public land is in HD 620?
40.8% of HD 620 is public land: 457,393 of its 1,120,612 acres. The largest share is BLM, 349,597 acres or 31.2% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 620 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 349,597 | 31.2% |
| State trust land | 73,532 | 6.6% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 18,809 | 1.7% |
| National wildlife refuge | 15,296 | 1.4% |
| Other public | 5,966 | 0.5% |
| FWP land | 159 | 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 620
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 26 areas in HD 620, 157,965 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Milk River Land And Cattle (28,554 acres, Type 1), Matador Ranch (26,475 acres, Type 2), Ap Dry Fork (16,549 acres, Type 2), Little Big Warm Ranch (15,515 acres, Type 1) and Barthelmess Ranch (10,380 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 620: Dodson Creek WMA (54 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 620?
FWP estimates 117 elk were harvested in HD 620 in 2025: 76 bulls, 38 cows and 4 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 704 hunters took 128 elk, about 18 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 | 117 | 76 | 38 | 4 | 53 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 128 | 91 | 34 | 3 | 56 | 704 | 6,028 | 18 |
| 2023 | 92 | 46 | 45 | 2 | 20 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 129 | 92 | 37 | 0 | 64 | 824 | 5,806 | 16 |
| 2021 | 135 | 73 | 59 | 4 | 48 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 143 | 83 | 58 | 3 | 58 | 750 | 5,117 | 19 |
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 620?
FWP estimates 439 deer were harvested in HD 620 in 2025: 392 mule deer and 46 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,199 deer hunters spent 6,966 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 439 | 392 | 46 | 389 | 46 | 210 | 1,199 | 6,966 |
| 2024 | 546 | 332 | 214 | 430 | 117 | 309 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 640 | 474 | 166 | 450 | 189 | 335 | 1,326 | 7,199 |
| 2022 | 748 | 556 | 192 | 568 | 181 | 400 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,102 | 958 | 144 | 646 | 457 | 431 | 1,760 | 9,970 |
| 2020 | 1,215 | 1,038 | 177 | 789 | 423 | 605 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 620 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 620:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk B License: 621-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid in HD 620 and HD 621. |
| Elk B License: 622-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid in HDs 620 and 622. |
| Elk B License: 698-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid in HDs 620, 621, 622. Not valid on CMR Refuge. |
| Elk B License: 699-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 150 | Oct 22-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only youth ages 12-15. Only valid in HDs 620, 621, 622, 630, and 690. | |
| Elk Permit: 620-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 70 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid in HDs 620, 621, and 622. Not valid on CMR refuge. 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. | |
| Elk Permit: 620-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 1,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 1st and 2nd choice only. Only valid in HDs 620, 621, and 622. 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 620 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 620 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: 620-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land in HD 620. |
FWP's notes for HD 620: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Bowdoin NWR closed hunting of big game
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 620 before you go.
How do you get to HD 620?
Highways through the district: US 191 (about 46 miles inside it), US 2 (about 27 miles inside it) and MT 2 (about 20 miles inside it). Towns inside: Malta and Dodson. Nearby: Saco (on the line).
Which districts border HD 620?
HD 620 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 621 | Upper Missouri Breaks-West | 75.8% | 93 | 266 |
| HD 622 | Middle Missouri Breaks | 72.1% | 102 | 98 |
| HD 630 | South Valley | 64.8% | 54 | 799 |
| HD 670 | North Phillips-Valley | 43.6% | 8 | 1,168 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 620 on a general license?
Not on the General Elk License alone. FWP's 2026 table for HD 620 lists no General Elk License season here: elk hunting is on drawn permits and B licenses (regulations page 113). An elk of either sex takes Elk Permit 620-20 (quota 70, apply by April 1), used with the General Elk License.
What is the closest town to HD 620?
Malta and Dodson are inside the district. Just outside: Saco (on the line).
Does HD 620 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 26 areas covering 157,965 acres in HD 620: 20 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 6 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Milk River Land And Cattle at 28,554 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 620?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 620 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 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.