Hunting District 700, Missouri Breaks-Prairie: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 700 (Missouri Breaks-Prairie) is 38% public land, most of it BLM (360,585 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 588 elk and 1,495 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,757 elk hunters spent 13,104 days here and took 660 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 landNational wildlife refugeOther publicHD 700Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 7, Southeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,726,018 acres (2,697 square miles) |
| Public land | 38% (655,822 acres) |
| Block Management | 30 areas, 176,864 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 588 (297 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,495 (1,015 mule deer, 480 white-tailed) |
| Bull elk | Elk Permit 700-20 (quota 250, 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 | Jordan, Fort Peck and Nashua |
HD 700 is the Missouri River Breaks south of the river and Fort Peck Reservoir, from the Musselshell River east to Big Dry Creek, near Jordan. FWP estimated 588 elk were taken here in 2025; elk hunting is on permit 700-20 and B licenses. FWP notes public access to elk is limited and difficult.
How much public land is in HD 700?
38% of HD 700 is public land: 655,822 of its 1,726,018 acres. The largest share is BLM, 360,585 acres or 20.9% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 700 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 360,585 | 20.9% |
| National wildlife refuge | 225,308 | 13.1% |
| State trust land | 69,929 | 4.1% |
| Other public | 343 | 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 700
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 30 areas in HD 700, 176,864 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Apr 73 Ranch (30,604 acres, Type 2), Big Dry Angus Ranch (16,411 acres, Type 2), Randy Brusett (11,979 acres, Type 1), Ca Weeding & Sons Inc (10,524 acres, Type 1) and Denim Fogle (8,848 acres, Type 1). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 700?
FWP estimates 588 elk were harvested in HD 700 in 2025: 297 bulls, 279 cows and 12 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,757 hunters took 660 elk, about 38 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 | 588 | 297 | 279 | 12 | 193 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 660 | 294 | 352 | 14 | 220 | 1,757 | 13,104 | 38 |
| 2023 | 518 | 229 | 279 | 10 | 175 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 499 | 267 | 222 | 10 | 179 | 1,560 | 11,716 | 32 |
| 2021 | 499 | 237 | 262 | 0 | 165 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 648 | 294 | 333 | 21 | 213 | 1,817 | 12,721 | 36 |
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 700?
FWP estimates 1,495 deer were harvested in HD 700 in 2025: 1,015 mule deer and 480 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 3,259 deer hunters spent 23,783 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,495 | 1,015 | 480 | 1,092 | 395 | 755 | 3,259 | 23,783 |
| 2024 | 1,434 | 835 | 598 | 1,060 | 364 | 741 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,878 | 1,163 | 716 | 1,390 | 472 | 973 | 3,467 | 21,061 |
| 2022 | 1,955 | 1,316 | 639 | 1,300 | 649 | 945 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 2,874 | 2,100 | 774 | 1,995 | 879 | 1,316 | 4,493 | 26,648 |
| 2020 | 3,628 | 2,893 | 735 | 2,067 | 1,543 | 1,653 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 700 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 700:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk B License: 007-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 800 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Valid in all Region 7 HDs. | ||
| Elk B License: 007-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 800 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Not valid on National Forest lands or CMR Refuge. Valid in all Region 7 HDs. | |
| Elk B License: 700-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 700 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |
| Elk Permit: 700-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 250 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 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: 700-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 800 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 1st and 2nd choice only. 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 700 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 700 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 lands. | ||
| 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: 007-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | Jun 1 | 6,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Valid in all Region 7 HDs. |
| Deer B License: 007-03 | Antlerless Mule Deer | Jun 1 | 1,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid on private lands. Valid in all Region 7 HDs |
FWP's notes for HD 700: Public access to elk is limited and difficult. 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.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 118, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 700 before you go.
How do you get to HD 700?
Highways through the district: MT 200 (about 6 miles inside it). Nearby: Jordan (on the line), Fort Peck (on the line), Nashua (9 miles) and Glasgow (15 miles).
Which districts border HD 700?
HD 700 touches 7 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 410 | Missouri River Breaks | 47.4% | 452 | 221 |
| HD 535 | Southern Snowy Mountains | 17.5% | 482 | 571 |
| HD 622 | Middle Missouri Breaks | 72.1% | 102 | 98 |
| HD 630 | South Valley | 64.8% | 54 | 799 |
| HD 650 | McCone-Richland | 14.3% | 4 | 1,025 |
| HD 652 | McCone-Garfield | 57.5% | 3 | 60 |
| HD 701 | Sagebrush Prairie | 18.1% | 139 | 1,711 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 700 on a general license?
Not on the General Elk License alone. FWP's 2026 table for HD 700 lists no General Elk License season here: elk hunting is on drawn permits and B licenses (regulations page 118). An elk of either sex takes Elk Permit 700-20 (quota 250, apply by April 1), used with the General Elk License.
What is the closest town to HD 700?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Jordan (on the line), Fort Peck (on the line) and Nashua (9 miles).
Does HD 700 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 30 areas covering 176,864 acres in HD 700: 23 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 7 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Apr 73 Ranch at 30,604 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 700?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 700 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 700
Those portions of Garfield, Petroleum, and McCone Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Musselshell River Bridge near Mosby on State Route 200, then north down the Musselshell River to the Missouri River, then east and north down the Missouri River to the Fort Peck Powerhouse, then south along the east shore of the Fort Peck Reservoir to Big Dry Creek, then south up Big Dry Creek to Little Dry Creek, then up Little Dry Creek to State Route 200, then west along said route to the Musselshell River Bridge, 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 118.
- 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 7 HD 410 HD 535 HD 622 HD 630 HD 650 HD 652 HD 701