Hunting District 704, Powder Pine Hills: elk and deer hunting
Hunting District 704 (Powder Pine Hills) is 30.2% public land, the largest part national forest (436,042 acres), by Montana's cadastral map of public land (2026). FWP estimates hunters took 492 elk and 2,421 deer here in 2025. In 2024, the last year FWP counted elk hunters by district, 1,601 elk hunters spent 13,141 days here and took 534 elk.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWP estimates for 2020 to 2025. Seasons: FWP's 2026 regulations. Land: Montana State Library, 2026-10.
National forestBLMState trust landFWP landBureau of ReclamationOther publicHD 704Neighboring districtsLake or riverHighway
| Region | FWP Region 7, Southeast Montana |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,474,787 acres (5,429 square miles) |
| Public land | 30.2% (1,050,561 acres) |
| Block Management | 25 areas, 142,517 acres (2026) |
| Elk harvested, 2025 | 492 (250 bulls) |
| Deer harvested, 2025 | 2,421 (1,770 mule deer, 652 white-tailed) |
| General elk license, general season | Spike bulls or antlerless elk (not on national forest lands) |
| Archery only, 2026 | September 5 to October 18 |
| General season, 2026 | October 24 to November 29 |
| Towns in and near it | Broadus, Ismay and Terry |
HD 704, Powder Pine Hills, is 5,429 square miles of pine hills and breaks around Broadus, from the Northern Cheyenne Reservation east toward the Powder River and north to Interstate 94.
How much public land is in HD 704?
30.2% of HD 704 is public land: 1,050,561 of its 3,474,787 acres. The largest share is national forest, 436,042 acres or 12.5% of the district.
| Manager | Acres | Share of HD 704 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 436,042 | 12.5% |
| BLM | 410,502 | 11.8% |
| State trust land | 200,756 | 5.8% |
| Other public | 7,331 | 0.2% |
| FWP land | 3,109 | 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 152 | 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 704
FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 25 areas in HD 704, 142,517 acres of private land open to hunters under the program. The largest: Fluss Ranch (24,383 acres, Type 2), Wild Wood Ranch (16,159 acres, Type 1), Coal Creek (15,670 acres, Type 2), Rough Creek Ranch Llc (10,772 acres, Type 1) and Brown Ranch (9,428 acres, Type 2). Each area has its own rules and map from FWP. FWP Block Management.
How many elk are harvested in HD 704?
FWP estimates 492 elk were harvested in HD 704 in 2025: 250 bulls, 232 cows and 10 calves. FWP last counted elk hunters by district in 2024: 1,601 hunters took 534 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 | 492 | 250 | 232 | 10 | 159 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2024 | 534 | 233 | 287 | 14 | 153 | 1,601 | 13,141 | 33 |
| 2023 | 396 | 166 | 207 | 24 | 94 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2022 | 342 | 169 | 163 | 10 | 133 | 1,323 | 10,458 | 26 |
| 2021 | 401 | 191 | 206 | 3 | 119 | not counted | not counted | |
| 2020 | 421 | 153 | 263 | 5 | 112 | 1,492 | 11,973 | 28 |
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 704?
FWP estimates 2,421 deer were harvested in HD 704 in 2025: 1,770 mule deer and 652 white-tailed deer. In 2025, 4,306 deer hunters spent 25,609 days here.
| Year | Deer harvested | Mule deer | White-tailed deer | Bucks | Does | Bucks 4 points or more | Deer hunters | Hunter days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,421 | 1,770 | 652 | 2,134 | 283 | 1,419 | 4,306 | 25,609 |
| 2024 | 2,288 | 1,572 | 716 | 1,981 | 296 | 1,308 | not counted | not counted |
| 2023 | 2,459 | 1,703 | 756 | 1,997 | 455 | 1,383 | 4,258 | 23,302 |
| 2022 | 2,426 | 1,780 | 647 | 1,809 | 611 | 1,363 | not counted | not counted |
| 2021 | 3,188 | 2,295 | 893 | 2,384 | 799 | 1,621 | 5,005 | 26,625 |
| 2020 | 4,241 | 3,187 | 1,054 | 2,856 | 1,382 | 2,185 | not counted | not counted |
Source: FWP Harvest Estimates (deer, 2020 to 2025).
When is elk season in HD 704 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 704:
| 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 | |||||
| General Elk License | Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk | Oct 24-Nov 29 | Muzzleloader: Dec 12-Dec 20 | Not valid on National Forest lands. | |||
| 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: 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 704 in 2026?
On the General Deer License in the general season, HD 704 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 |
Source: FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, page 122, with FWP's corrections. FWP can change a season or quota during the year: check FWP's page for HD 704 before you go.
How do you get to HD 704?
Highways through the district: MT 59 (about 75 miles inside it), US 12 (about 48 miles inside it), US 212 (about 45 miles inside it) and I-94 (about 37 miles inside it). Nearby: Broadus (on the line), Ismay (on the line), Terry (on the line) and Miles City (on the line).
Which districts border HD 704?
HD 704 touches 4 other deer and elk districts. Their public land and 2025 harvest, for comparison:
| District | Name | Public land | Elk harvested | Deer harvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 701 | Sagebrush Prairie | 18.1% | 1,711 | |
| HD 702 | Yellowstone Pine Hills | 9.7% | 263 | 900 |
| HD 703 | Grassland-Agriculture | 16% | 111 | 1,725 |
| HD 705 | Prairie/Pines-Juniper Breaks | 30.2% | 145 | 2,261 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt elk in HD 704 on a general license?
Yes. In 2026 the General Elk License allows spike bulls or antlerless elk (not on national forest lands) in HD 704 during the general season, October 24 to November 29, with the restrictions FWP prints for the district (regulations page 122). FWP also lists 5 elk B license or permit opportunities here.
What is the closest town to HD 704?
No town is inside it. The nearest are Broadus (on the line), Ismay (on the line) and Terry (on the line).
Does HD 704 have Block Management?
Yes. FWP's 2026 Block Management map shows 25 areas covering 142,517 acres in HD 704: 4 where hunters give themselves permission (Type 1) and 21 where the landowner or FWP gives it (Type 2). The largest is Fluss Ranch at 24,383 acres.
Where is FWP's map of HD 704?
FWP publishes a printable map of the district: HD 704 map (PDF). The boundary in words is in FWP's legal descriptions.
FWP's legal description of HD 704
Those portions of Big Horn, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Prairie and Rosebud counties lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of the Montana-Wyoming border and the east boundary of the Crow Reservation, then north along said boundary to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation boundary, then east along said boundary to the Tongue River, then north down said river to the northeast corner of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation boundary, then west along said boundary to Route 332, then north on said route to State Route 59, then north on said route to its junction with Interstate 94, then north along said interstate to O’Fallon Creek, then southeast up said creek to US Highway 12, then west along said highway to its junction with Powder River Road at Locate, then south on said road to Broadus, then south along the Broadus-Moorhead Road to the Montana-Wyoming border, then west along the said border to its intersection with the Crow Reservation boundary, 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 122.
- 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.