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Montana

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Montana District Finder

Answer six questions and get Montana hunting districts ranked by habitat fit, season timing, land access and FWP harvest history.

How the Montana finder works

Montana manages big game by hunting district (HD). This tool scores every HD for the species you pick using FWP harvest estimates from 2021–2025, USGS land-cover and elevation data inside each district, and the share of each district that is open public land (national forest, BLM and state land).

Season fit uses FWP's statewide 2026–27 season dates, including archery-only, general rifle, heritage muzzleloader and elk shoulder seasons. District-specific quotas and permit-only hunts are flagged so you can check them in the FWP Hunt Planner.

Species covered

  • Mule deer
  • White-tailed deer
  • Elk
  • Pronghorn antelope
  • Moose
  • Bighorn sheep
  • Mountain goat
  • Bison
  • Black bear
  • Mountain lion
  • Gray wolf
  • Wild turkey

Upland birds (ranked by county)

  • Ring-necked pheasant
  • Sharp-tailed grouse
  • Sage grouse
  • Gray (Hungarian) partridge
  • Chukar
  • Forest grouse

Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)

  • Ducks
  • Canada and dark geese
  • Snow and Ross's geese
  • Mourning dove
  • Sandhill crane
  • Tundra swan

About every species on the species page →

Data sources

Montana hunting FAQ

Which Montana hunting districts have the most public land?

Districts in western and southwestern Montana that are mostly national forest score highest for public access. Set "Public land only" in the tool and it weights the share of each HD that is federal, state or local land with public access.

Are mule deer and white-tailed deer ranked separately?

Yes. FWP reports harvest for each deer species separately, and the tool ranks mule deer and white-tailed deer on their own harvest history and habitat.

Does the tool replace the FWP Hunt Planner?

No. It narrows down where to look. Always confirm dates, quotas, licenses and access in the FWP regulations and Hunt Planner before you hunt.

Montana harvest leaders

The hunting districts with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.

Mule deer (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 670: 1,860 per year, 59% success
  2. HD 704: 1,824 per year, 42% success
  3. HD 640: 1,781 per year, 59% success
  4. HD 705: 1,690 per year, 42% success
  5. HD 690: 1,617 per year, 54% success

White-tailed deer (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 170: 1,553 per year, 61% success
  2. HD 103: 1,526 per year, 33% success
  3. HD 101: 1,141 per year, 38% success
  4. HD 100: 1,098 per year, 42% success
  5. HD 411: 1,006 per year, 39% success

Elk (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 322: 1,150 per year, 32% success
  2. HD 360: 987 per year, 40% success
  3. HD 411: 755 per year, 34% success
  4. HD 580: 715 per year, 39% success
  5. HD 590: 672 per year, 31% success

Pronghorn antelope (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 705: 1,482 per year, 90% success
  2. HD 700: 964 per year, 72% success
  3. HD 701: 827 per year, 66% success
  4. HD 704: 739 per year, 71% success
  5. HD 576: 645 per year, 55% success

Moose (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 334: 14 per year, 90% success
  2. HD 332: 12 per year, 77% success
  3. HD 330: 11 per year, 76% success
  4. HD 323: 10 per year, 93% success
  5. HD 106: 9 per year, 74% success

Bighorn sheep (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 680: 36 per year, 63% success
  2. HD 482: 17 per year, 92% success
  3. HD 622: 16 per year, 90% success
  4. HD 124: 7 per year, 92% success
  5. HD 270: 6 per year, 100% success

Mountain goat (2021–2025 average)

  1. HD 323: 33 per year, 88% success
  2. HD 314: 21 per year, 71% success
  3. HD 313: 13 per year, 82% success
  4. HD 329: 12 per year, 84% success
  5. HD 316: 8 per year, 71% success

Black bear (2023–2025 average)

  1. HD 200: 119 per year
  2. HD 216: 107 per year
  3. HD 341: 101 per year
  4. HD 319: 90 per year
  5. HD 316: 85 per year

Mountain lion (2023–2025 average)

  1. HD 700: 29 per year
  2. HD 121: 22 per year
  3. HD 202: 21 per year
  4. HD 122: 17 per year
  5. HD 411: 17 per year

Gray wolf (2022–2025 average)

  1. WMU 2: 50 per year
  2. WMU 1: 42 per year
  3. WMU 3: 42 per year
  4. WMU 4: 10 per year
  5. WMU 313: 4 per year

Wild turkey (2023–2025 average)

  1. HD Flathead: 773 per year, 69% success
  2. HD Carter: 663 per year, 89% success
  3. HD Sanders: 602 per year, 77% success
  4. HD Lincoln: 522 per year, 73% success
  5. HD Custer: 497 per year, 92% success

Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Beaverhead County: 16,750 per year
  2. Lewis and Clark County: 11,226 per year
  3. Ravalli County: 6,701 per year
  4. Cascade County: 6,301 per year
  5. Madison County: 5,881 per year

Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Yellowstone County: 6,599 per year
  2. Valley County: 4,510 per year
  3. Big Horn County: 4,215 per year
  4. Rosebud County: 4,006 per year
  5. Treasure County: 3,306 per year