Hunting District 702, Yellowstone Pine Hills: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 702 (Yellowstone Pine Hills) is 9.7% public land, most of it state trust land (107,331 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 263 elk and 900 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 771 elk hunters spent 5,137 days here and took 284 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 landOther publicHD 702Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 7, Southeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,766,800 acres (2,761 square miles) |
| Public land | 9.7% (171,343 acres) |
| Block Management | 14 areas, 138,211 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 263 (99 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 900 (631 mule deer, 269 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Spike bulls or antlerless elk |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Colstrip, Forsyth, Miles City and Hardin |
HD 702 is the pine hills south of the Yellowstone River between Hysham, Forsyth and Miles City, around Colstrip. FWP notes its elk are mostly on private land. The General Elk License allows a spike bull or an antlerless elk; an either-sex elk takes permit 702-20 or 799-20.
How much public land is in HD 702?
9.7% of HD 702 is public land: 171,343 of its 1,766,800 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 107,331 acres or 6.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 702 |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land | 107,331 | 6.1% |
| BLM | 63,980 | 3.6% |
| Other public | 40,591 | 2.3% |
| FWP land | 32 | 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 702
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 14 areas in HD 702, 138,211 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Fort Keogh (39,947 acres, Type 2), Rocker Six Cattle Co (30,623 acres, Type 2), P & L Cattle Co (14,855 acres, Type 2), Fix Ranch (9,961 acres, Type 2) and Les Hirsch (9,248 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 702?
FWP estimates 263 elk were harvested in HD 702 in 2025: 99 bulls, 150 cows and 13 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 771 hunters took 284 elk, about 37 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 | 263 | 99 | 150 | 13 | 67 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 284 | 102 | 173 | 9 | 84 | 771 | 5,137 | 37 |
| 2023 | 184 | 58 | 126 | 0 | 46 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 220 | 107 | 111 | 3 | 98 | 716 | 4,859 | 31 |
| 2021 | 224 | 118 | 99 | 8 | 71 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 210 | 90 | 111 | 10 | 63 | 661 | 4,537 | 32 |
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 702?
FWP estimates 900 deer were harvested in HD 702 in 2025: 631 mule deer and 269 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 1,740 deer hunters spent 9,567 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 900 | 631 | 269 | 727 | 170 | 543 | 1,740 | 9,567 |
| 2024 | 1,201 | 819 | 382 | 968 | 230 | 655 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 1,201 | 798 | 403 | 950 | 251 | 771 | 2,028 | 11,142 |
| 2022 | 1,297 | 875 | 422 | 1,015 | 279 | 822 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 1,170 | 797 | 373 | 857 | 309 | 629 | 1,842 | 10,611 |
| 2020 | 1,793 | 1,403 | 390 | 1,096 | 694 | 859 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 702 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 702:
| License or permit | What may be taken | Apply by | Quota | Archery only | General | Other seasons | FWP's restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Elk License | Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | |||
| General Elk License | Antlerless Elk | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid on private land. | ||||
| 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: 007-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 800 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid on private land. | ||
| Elk B License: 700-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 700 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid on private land. | ||
| Elk B License: 799-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 600 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Only valid in HDs 702, 704, and 705. |
| Elk B License: 799-00 | Antlerless Elk | Jun 1 | 600 | Late: Nov 30-Feb 15 | Only valid on private land in HDs 702, 704, and 705. | ||
| Elk Permit: 702-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 150 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Not valid on National Forest lands. Permit only valid in HD 702. Successful Either-sex elk permit 702-20 applicants may be offered the opportunity to purchase one antlerless Elk B 798-00 License valid only where pemit is valid during the same time periods and with the same restrictions. 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: 799-20 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 325 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | 1st and only choice. Only valid in HDs 702, 704, and 705. 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. Successful Either- sex elk permit 799-20 applicants may be offered the opportunity to purchase one antlerless Elk B 798-00 License valid only where pemit is valid during the same time periods and with the same restrictions. |
| Elk Permit: 799-21 | Either-sex Elk | April 1 | 1,000 | Sep 5-Oct 18 | 1st and only choice. Only valid in HDs 702, 704, and 705. 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. Successful Either- sex elk permit 799-21 applicants may be offered the opportunity to purchase one antlerless Elk B 798-00 License valid only where pemit is valid during the same time periods and with the same restrictions. |
When is deer season in HD 702 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 702 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 702: Elk primarily found on private land. Public access may be difficult and limited.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, pages 119 to 120, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 702 before you go.
How do you get to HD 702?
Highways through the district: I-94 (about 75 miles inside it), MT 39 (about 47 miles inside it), US 12 (about 34 miles inside it), US 384 (about 26 miles inside it) and MT 59 (about 2 miles inside it). Towns inside: Colstrip. Nearby: Forsyth (on the line), Miles City (on the line), Hardin (2 miles) and Hysham (2 miles).
Which districts border HD 702?
HD 702 touches 3 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 590 | Bull Mountains-Pine Ridge | 9.7% | 766 | 1,734 |
| HD 701 | Sagebrush Prairie | 18.1% | 139 | 1,711 |
| HD 704 | Powder Pine Hills | 30.2% | 492 | 2,421 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 702 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows spike bulls or antlerless elk in HD 702 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 119). FWP also lists 6 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 702?
Colstrip is inside the district. Just outside: Forsyth (on the line), Miles City (on the line) and Hardin (2 miles).
Does HD 702 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 14 areas covering 138,211 acres in HD 702: 3 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 11 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Fort Keogh at 39,947 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 702?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 702 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, pages 119 to 120.
- 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.