Hunting District 650, McCone-Richland: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 650 (McCone-Richland) is 14.3% public land, most of it BLM (188,986 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 4 elk and 1,025 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 98 elk hunters spent 558 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 refugeNational park (no hunting)Bureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 650Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 6, Northeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,260,459 acres (3,532 square miles) |
| Public land | 14.3% (322,219 acres) |
| Block Management | 50 areas, 188,277 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 4 (4 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,025 (843 mule deer, 182 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 | Sidney, Fairview, Richey, Circle, Poplar and Wolf Point |
HD 650 runs from Circle and MT 200 north to the Missouri River and east to North Dakota, around Sidney, Fairview and Richey. Fifty Block Management areas cover 188,277 acres. FWP's 2025 deer estimate was 1,025, down from 2,390 in 2021.
How much public land is in HD 650?
14.3% of HD 650 is public land: 322,219 of its 2,260,459 acres. The largest share is BLM, 188,986 acres or 8.4% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 650 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 188,986 | 8.4% |
| State trust land | 126,619 | 5.6% |
| National wildlife refuge | 6,567 | 0.3% |
| Other public | 3,567 | 0.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 26 | under 0.1% |
| FWP land | 21 | under 0.1% |
| National park (no hunting) | 15 | 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 650
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 50 areas in HD 650, 188,277 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Vine Wright (15,250 acres, Type 1), Remuda Twitchell (15,168 acres, Type 1), Charley Creek (12,864 acres, Type 1), Johnston (12,553 acres, Type 2) and Vida East (11,955 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 650?
FWP estimates 4 elk were harvested in HD 650 in 2025: 4 bulls, 0 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 98 hunters took 14 elk, about 14 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 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 98 | 558 | 14 |
| 2023 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 582 | 11 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | not counted | not counted |
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 650?
FWP estimates 1,025 deer were harvested in HD 650 in 2025: 843 mule deer and 182 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,010 deer hunters spent 12,283 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,025 | 843 | 182 | 924 | 97 | 633 | 2,010 | 12,283 |
| 2024 | 1,275 | 981 | 293 | 1,050 | 225 | 823 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,710 | 1,334 | 375 | 1,148 | 559 | 926 | 2,538 | 13,513 |
| 2022 | 1,858 | 1,443 | 415 | 1,204 | 637 | 908 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 2,390 | 2,002 | 388 | 1,341 | 1,049 | 1,034 | 2,635 | 14,152 |
| 2020 | 2,314 | 1,742 | 572 | 1,588 | 719 | 1,323 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 650 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 650:
| 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 650 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 650 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: 650-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
FWP's notes for HD 650: Check the restricted area legal descriptions (regulations pages 28 to 30): Charles M. Russell (CMR) National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 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 650 before you go.
How do you get to HD 650?
Highways through the district: MT 13 (about 46 miles inside it), MT 24 (about 34 miles inside it), MT 200 (about 34 miles inside it) and MT 16 (about 34 miles inside it). Towns inside: Sidney, Fairview, Richey and Vida. Nearby: Circle (on the line), Poplar (on the line), Wolf Point (on the line) and Fort Peck (on the line).
Which districts border HD 650?
HD 650 touches 6 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 630 | South Valley | 64.8% | 54 | 799 |
| HD 640 | Northeast Montana | 14.6% | 27 | 1,695 |
| HD 652 | McCone-Garfield | 57.5% | 3 | 60 |
| HD 700 | Missouri Breaks-Prairie | 38% | 588 | 1,495 |
| HD 701 | Sagebrush Prairie | 18.1% | 139 | 1,711 |
| HD 703 | Grassland-Agriculture | 16% | 111 | 1,725 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 650 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 650 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 650?
Sidney, Fairview and Richey are inside the district. Just outside: Circle (on the line), Poplar (on the line) and Wolf Point (on the line).
Does HD 650 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 50 areas covering 188,277 acres in HD 650: 43 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 7 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Vine Wright at 15,250 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 650?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 650 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 650
That portion of McCone,Richland and Dawson Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at Circle, then northeast along State Route 200 to the North Dakota Border, then northerly along said border to the Missouri River, then westerly along the Missouri River to the Fort Peck Dam, then easterly along the north shore of Fort Peck Reservoir to the Fort Peck Dam Spillway, then southerly along State Route 24 to State Route 200, then easterly along said route to Circle, 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.
Montana hunting Region 6 HD 630 HD 640 HD 652 HD 700 HD 701 HD 703