Hunting District 703, Grassland-Agriculture: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 703 (Grassland-Agriculture) is 16% public land, most of it BLM (319,285 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 111 elk and 1,725 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 449 elk hunters spent 3,246 days here and took 62 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 703Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 7, Southeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,493,294 acres (5,458 square miles) |
| Public land | 16% (558,562 acres) |
| Block Management | 94 areas, 356,911 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 111 (77 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 1,725 (1,277 mule deer, 448 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 | Glendive, Wibaux, Circle, Richey, Baker and Fairview |
HD 703 is 5,458 square miles of eastern prairie from Terry and Circle east to North Dakota, around Glendive, Wibaux and Baker. Its 94 Block Management areas, 356,911 acres, are more areas than any other Montana district has. Elk Island, Seven Sisters and Fox Lake WMAs lie inside it.
How much public land is in HD 703?
16% of HD 703 is public land: 558,562 of its 3,493,294 acres. The largest share is BLM, 319,285 acres or 9.1% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 703 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 319,285 | 9.1% |
| State trust land | 221,256 | 6.3% |
| FWP land | 16,090 | 0.5% |
| Other public | 7,949 | 0.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 1,931 | 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 703
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 94 areas in HD 703, 356,911 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Cedar Creek Grazing Association (38,610 acres, Type 2), 52 Ranch Inc. (21,998 acres, Type 2), Horse Creek Complex (20,149 acres, Type 2), Grue Ranch (18,500 acres, Type 2) and Veebaray Company (16,011 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
Wildlife management areas in HD 703: Elk Island WMA (1,701 acres here), Seven Sisters WMA (1,554 acres here) and Fox Lake WMA (1,485 acres here).
How many elk are harvested in HD 703?
FWP estimates 111 elk were harvested in HD 703 in 2025: 77 bulls, 34 cows and 0 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 449 hunters took 62 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 | 111 | 77 | 34 | 0 | 32 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 62 | 39 | 18 | 6 | 15 | 449 | 3,246 | 14 |
| 2023 | 94 | 65 | 29 | 0 | 32 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 73 | 67 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 431 | 2,931 | 17 |
| 2021 | 41 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 18 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 65 | 55 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 264 | 1,885 | 25 |
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 703?
FWP estimates 1,725 deer were harvested in HD 703 in 2025: 1,277 mule deer and 448 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 3,447 deer hunters spent 21,223 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,725 | 1,277 | 448 | 1,467 | 258 | 1,075 | 3,447 | 21,223 |
| 2024 | 2,236 | 1,421 | 815 | 1,750 | 477 | 1,423 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 2,296 | 1,448 | 848 | 1,832 | 452 | 1,439 | 3,673 | 20,696 |
| 2022 | 2,774 | 1,665 | 1,109 | 1,725 | 1,039 | 1,339 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 2,851 | 1,917 | 934 | 1,880 | 955 | 1,311 | 3,853 | 21,574 |
| 2020 | 3,994 | 2,656 | 1,338 | 2,505 | 1,475 | 1,978 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 703 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 703:
| 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 | |||
| 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. |
When is deer season in HD 703 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 703 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 703: Elk numbers are low and primarily found on private land. Public access may be difficult and limited.
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 121, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 703 before you go.
How do you get to HD 703?
Highways through the district: MT 200 (about 175 miles inside it), I-94 (about 140 miles inside it), MT 16 (about 52 miles inside it), MT 7 (about 45 miles inside it) and US 12 (about 34 miles inside it). Towns inside: Glendive, Wibaux, Circle, Plevna, Ismay and Fallon. Nearby: Richey (on the line), Baker (on the line), Fairview (on the line) and Terry (on the line).
Which districts border HD 703?
HD 703 touches 4 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 701 | Sagebrush Prairie | 18.1% | 139 | 1,711 |
| HD 704 | Powder Pine Hills | 30.2% | 492 | 2,421 |
| HD 705 | Prairie/Pines-Juniper Breaks | 30.2% | 145 | 2,261 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 703 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows elk of either sex in HD 703 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 121). FWP also lists 1 elk B license or permit opportunity here.
What is the closest town to HD 703?
Glendive, Wibaux and Circle are inside the district. Just outside: Richey (on the line), Baker (on the line) and Fairview (on the line).
Does HD 703 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 94 areas covering 356,911 acres in HD 703: 62 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 32 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Cedar Creek Grazing Association at 38,610 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 703?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 703 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 703
Those portions of Prairie, McCone, Dawson, Richland, Wibaux, Fallon and Custer Counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of Route 253 and Interstate 94 at Terry, then north along Route 253 to its intersection with State Route 200 at Brockway, then northeasterly along said route through Sidney to the Montana-North Dakota border, then south along said border to its intersection with US Highway 12 east of Baker, then west along said highway to its intersection with O’Fallon Creek, then northwest down said creek to its intersection with Interstate 94, then west along said interstate to its intersection with Route 253 at Terry, 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 121.
- 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.