Hunting District 640, Northeast Montana: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 640 (Northeast Montana) is 14.6% public land, most of it state trust land (309,667 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 27 elk and 1,695 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 89 elk hunters spent 449 days here and took 3 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 refugeNational park (no hunting)Other publicHD 640Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 6, Northeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,391,817 acres (3,737 square miles) |
| Public land | 14.6% (348,954 acres) |
| Block Management | 50 areas, 248,881 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 27 (23 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,695 (1,225 mule deer, 470 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 | Plentywood, Bainville, Outlook, Opheim, Fairview and Sidney |
HD 640 is Montana's northeast corner, from MT 24 east to North Dakota, north of the Fort Peck Reservation and the Missouri River: 3,737 square miles. Fifty Block Management areas cover 248,881 acres. FWP estimated 1,695 deer were taken here in 2025, down from 3,079 in 2023.
How much public land is in HD 640?
14.6% of HD 640 is public land: 348,954 of its 2,391,817 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 309,667 acres or 12.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 640 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 309,667 | 12.9% |
| National wildlife refuge | 33,382 | 1.4% |
| BLM | 5,582 | 0.2% |
| Other public | 4,102 | 0.2% |
| FWP land | 323 | under 0.1% |
| National park (no hunting) | 52 | 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. National park land is closed to hunting.
Block Management in HD 640
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 50 areas in HD 640, 248,881 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Mccabe (31,230 acres, Type 1), Madoc (23,768 acres, Type 1), Sandhills (21,896 acres, Type 1), Combine Coulee (21,645 acres, Type 1) and Eagle'S Nest (20,511 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 640?
FWP estimates 27 elk were harvested in HD 640 in 2025: 23 bulls, 4 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 89 hunters took 3 elk, about 3 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 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 8 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 449 | 3 |
| 2023 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 95 | 657 | 17 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 343 | 10 |
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 640?
FWP estimates 1,695 deer were harvested in HD 640 in 2025: 1,225 mule deer and 470 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,776 deer hunters spent 17,162 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,695 | 1,225 | 470 | 1,360 | 333 | 982 | 2,776 | 17,162 |
| 2024 | 2,489 | 1,678 | 810 | 1,806 | 678 | 1,537 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 3,079 | 2,230 | 850 | 1,861 | 1,211 | 1,539 | 3,542 | 20,669 |
| 2022 | 2,738 | 1,811 | 926 | 1,718 | 1,007 | 1,406 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 2,747 | 1,962 | 784 | 1,630 | 1,098 | 1,365 | 2,867 | 16,531 |
| 2020 | 2,421 | 1,590 | 830 | 1,573 | 844 | 1,363 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 640 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 640:
| 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 640 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 640 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: 640-00 | 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 640: Elk numbers are low and will be difficult to find.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 116, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 640 before you go.
How do you get to HD 640?
Highways through the district: MT 16 (about 102 miles inside it), MT 5 (about 68 miles inside it), US 2 (about 28 miles inside it), MT 24 (about 27 miles inside it) and MT 13 (about 26 miles inside it). Towns inside: Plentywood, Bainville, Outlook, Culbertson, Scobey and Froid. Nearby: Opheim (on the line), Fairview (10 miles) and Sidney (20 miles).
Which districts border HD 640?
HD 640 touches 2 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 650 | McCone-Richland | 14.3% | 4 | 1,025 |
| HD 670 | North Phillips-Valley | 43.6% | 8 | 1,168 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 640 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 640 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 116).
What is the closest town to HD 640?
Plentywood, Bainville and Outlook are inside the district. Just outside: Opheim (on the line), Fairview (10 miles) and Sidney (20 miles).
Does HD 640 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 50 areas covering 248,881 acres in HD 640: 48 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 2 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Mccabe at 31,230 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 640?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 640 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 640
Those portions of Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt and Valley Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at a point where State Route 24 crosses the Canadian border, then southerly along said route to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation boundary, then easterly along said boundary to Big Muddy Creek, then southerly along said creek to the Missouri River, then easterly down the Missouri River to the North Dakota border, then north along said border to the Canadian border, then westerly along said border to State Route 24, 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 116.
- 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.