Hunting District 690, South Hill-Blaine-Chouteau: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 690 (South Hill-Blaine-Chouteau) is 18.5% public land, the largest part BLM (230,841 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 349 elk and 1,544 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 776 elk hunters spent 5,391 days here and took 257 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 690Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 6, Northeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,557,112 acres (3,995 square miles) |
| Public land | 18.5% (473,675 acres) |
| Block Management | 29 areas, 141,302 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 349 (82 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,544 (1,194 mule deer, 350 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Antlerless elk |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Havre, Chinook, Big Sandy, Hingham, Harlem and Fort Benton |
HD 690 runs from the Liberty County line east toward Fort Belknap, between US 2, the Milk River and the Missouri, around Havre, Chinook, Big Sandy and Loma. The Rocky Boy's Reservation and the parts of Fort Belknap inside its lines are not part of it. FWP notes its elk are mostly on private land; an either-sex elk takes permit 690-20.
How much public land is in HD 690?
18.5% of HD 690 is public land: 473,675 of its 2,557,112 acres. The largest share is BLM, 230,841 acres or 9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 690 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 230,841 | 9% |
| State trust land | 224,646 | 8.8% |
| Other public | 19,636 | 0.8% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 16,631 | 0.7% |
| FWP land | 1,157 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 400 | under 0.1% |
| National park (no hunting) | 40 | 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 690
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 29 areas in HD 690, 141,302 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: S Bar B Ranch (22,408 acres, Type 2), Biebinger Ranch (13,518 acres, Type 2), Williamson Ranch (13,102 acres, Type 2), Bkb Ranch (12,871 acres, Type 2) and Mack Ranch (10,803 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management area in HD 690: Spring Coulee WMA (1,052 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 690?
FWP estimates 349 elk were harvested in HD 690 in 2025: 82 bulls, 248 cows and 18 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 776 hunters took 257 elk, about 33 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 | 349 | 82 | 248 | 18 | 73 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 257 | 82 | 172 | 3 | 73 | 776 | 5,391 | 33 |
| 2023 | 209 | 67 | 127 | 15 | 58 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 220 | 56 | 153 | 12 | 52 | 664 | 4,014 | 33 |
| 2021 | 179 | 58 | 117 | 4 | 45 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 232 | 65 | 163 | 4 | 61 | 694 | 4,978 | 33 |
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 690?
FWP estimates 1,544 deer were harvested in HD 690 in 2025: 1,194 mule deer and 350 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 2,914 deer hunters spent 15,526 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,544 | 1,194 | 350 | 1,334 | 197 | 976 | 2,914 | 15,526 |
| 2024 | 1,761 | 1,315 | 446 | 1,396 | 362 | 1,061 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 2,050 | 1,520 | 530 | 1,533 | 496 | 1,215 | 3,038 | 16,683 |
| 2022 | 2,352 | 1,692 | 660 | 1,550 | 799 | 1,235 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 2,889 | 2,362 | 528 | 1,841 | 1,041 | 1,428 | 3,447 | 17,101 |
| 2020 | 2,945 | 2,232 | 713 | 1,925 | 971 | 1,562 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 690 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 690:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | ||||
| Elk B License: 690-01 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 450 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 Late: Dec 6-Jan 31 | 690-01 license holders may use General Elk License to harvest 2nd antlerless elk in the same area and for the same duration the 690-01 is valid. | |
| 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: 690-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 50 | 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. | |
| Elk Permit: 690-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 50 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 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 690 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 690 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: 690-00 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 100 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private land. |
FWP's notes for HD 690: Elk primarily found on private land. Public access may be difficult and limited.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 117, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 690 before you go.
How do you get to HD 690?
Highways through the district: US 87 (about 54 miles inside it) and US 2 (about 34 miles inside it). Towns inside: Havre, Chinook, Big Sandy, Herron, Beaver Creek and Loma. Nearby: Hingham (on the line), Harlem (on the line), Fort Benton (8 miles) and Chester (10 miles).
Which districts border HD 690?
HD 690 touches 8 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 417 | Armells Creek | 37.5% | 302 | 124 |
| HD 426 | Winifred | 20.8% | 122 | 448 |
| HD 471 | Geraldine | 19.2% | 15 | 329 |
| HD 600 | North Hill-Blaine | 20% | 22 | 1,054 |
| HD 621 | Upper Missouri Breaks-West | 75.8% | 93 | 266 |
| HD 670 | North Phillips-Valley | 43.6% | 8 | 1,168 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 690 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows antlerless elk in HD 690 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 117). FWP also lists 4 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 690?
Havre, Chinook and Big Sandy are inside the district. Just outside: Hingham (on the line), Harlem (on the line) and Fort Benton (8 miles).
Does HD 690 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 29 areas covering 141,302 acres in HD 690: 20 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 9 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is S Bar B Ranch at 22,408 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 690?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 690 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 690
Those portions of Hill, Blaine and Chouteau Counties lying within the following described boundaries (excluding the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation and portions of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation lying within the exterior boundaries of HD 690): Beginning at a point where the Hill-Liberty County Line meets US Highway 2, three miles west of Inverness, then south along said county line to the Marias River, then southerly along said river to the Missouri River, then east along said river to Cow Creek, then north along said creek to Suction Creek, then northeast along said creek to Little Suction Creek, then along said creek to the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation Boundary, then north along said boundary to the Milk River, then east along said river to US Highway 2 at Fort Belknap Indian Agency, then north and west along said highway to the Hill-Liberty County line three miles west of Inverness, 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 117.
- 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 400 HD 401 HD 417 HD 426 HD 471 HD 600 HD 621 HD 670