Best mule deer hunting units in Montana
Ranked by 2021–2025 success rate · Montana FWP harvest reports
- 63.4%
- HD 652 ranks #1, 2021–2025
- 23.2%
- statewide mule deer average
- 136
- districts with 100+ hunters a year
These are the Montana hunting districts where mule deer hunters did best from 2021 to 2025, ranked from Montana FWP's harvest reports. Each rate is total mule deer harvest divided by total deer hunters across the years FWP surveyed deer hunters.
FWP counts all deer hunters in a district together, so these rates compare districts fairly but read lower than a mule-deer-only number would. Many top districts are in eastern Montana, where access is often through private land. Open each district's page to check its license rules, public land, and terrain, and use the nonresident list below if you're coming from out of state.
Top 15
| # | Unit | 2021–2025 rate | Latest year | Hunters / yr | 4+ pt bucks | Residents | Nonresidents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HD 652 | 63.4% | 42.3% (2025) | 155 | 76.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 2 | HD 640 | 59.0% | 44.1% (2025) | 3,062 | 76.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 3 | HD 670 | 58.6% | 38.9% (2025) | 3,294 | 69.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 4 | HD 650 | 58.2% | 41.9% (2025) | 2,394 | 73.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 5 | HD 690 | 54.0% | 41.0% (2025) | 3,133 | 75.9% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 6 | HD 405 | 51.7% | 46.0% (2025) | 1,126 | 61.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 7 | HD 471 | 51.4% | 44.4% (2025) | 741 | 71.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 8 | HD 426 | 48.0% | 40.1% (2025) | 1,097 | 71.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 9 | HD 630 | 47.7% | 35.9% (2025) | 1,853 | 61.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 10 | HD 600 | 47.3% | 39.2% (2025) | 2,223 | 67.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 11 | HD 403 | 42.9% | 43.8% (2025) | 432 | 58.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 12 | HD 620 | 42.6% | 32.7% (2025) | 1,428 | 63.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 13 | HD 704 | 42.5% | 41.1% (2025) | 4,523 | 62.2% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 14 | HD 703 | 42.3% | 37.0% (2025) | 3,658 | 70.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 15 | HD 705 | 41.8% | 40.8% (2025) | 4,244 | 60.1% | Over the counter | Draw |
The top 5
- HD 652 put 63.4% of mule deer hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 76.0% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 640 put 59.0% of mule deer hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 76.0% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 670 put 58.6% of mule deer hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 69.7% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 650 put 58.2% of mule deer hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 73.7% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 690 put 54.0% of mule deer hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 75.9% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
Best for nonresident hunters
Ranked the same way on nonresident hunters and harvest only.
| # | Unit | 2021–2025 rate | Latest year | Hunters / yr | 4+ pt bucks | Residents | Nonresidents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HD 471 | 74.1% | 69.7% (2025) | 111 | 71.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 2 | HD 650 | 73.8% | 61.0% (2025) | 844 | 73.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 3 | HD 670 | 71.5% | 50.1% (2025) | 1,630 | 69.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 4 | HD 690 | 70.3% | 61.7% (2025) | 797 | 75.9% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 5 | HD 640 | 68.3% | 57.3% (2025) | 1,377 | 76.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 6 | HD 405 | 67.7% | 65.0% (2025) | 117 | 61.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 7 | HD 620 | 60.7% | 55.3% (2025) | 434 | 63.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 8 | HD 426 | 60.7% | 56.3% (2025) | 265 | 71.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 9 | HD 630 | 60.6% | 50.1% (2025) | 891 | 61.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 10 | HD 600 | 57.4% | 59.4% (2025) | 411 | 67.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
How we rank
Each rate is total harvest divided by total hunters across 2021–2025, counting only years the state surveyed hunters. A unit needs an average of 100 hunters a year to be listed. Ties go to the unit with more hunters.
FWP surveys deer hunters in odd years, so these rates pool 2021, 2023, and 2025.
Deer rates divide each species' harvest by all deer hunters in the district — FWP doesn't count mule deer and whitetail hunters separately.
Trophy share needs at least two surveyed years with antler-point data; otherwise it shows "—".