HD 293

Elk

Resident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Over the counter

✅ Includes bull elk

Residents buy the General Elk License over the counter; the resident license availability chart (p. 12) lists no application deadline for it, and residents may instead buy a Sportsman's License that includes one.

HD 293 (South Lincoln-Nevada Creek) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 71.

District NOTE: 'Nevada Lake WMA closed Dec. 02 - May 15.' Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18.

Brow-tined bull elk: General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk: General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only youth ages 12-15 and hunters with a PTHFV.

Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land'.

Elk B licenses 293-00 and 293-01 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Nonresident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Draw

✅ Includes bull elk

Most nonresidents cannot buy their General Elk License over the counter.

Per 'Elk Licenses & Permits - General Elk License' (p. 16), they must obtain one through the drawing for one of the 17,000 Big Game Combination Licenses, applying in the random lottery drawing by April 1.

The separate NONRESIDENT License and Permit Availability Chart (p. 13) states that the Elk Combination includes a General Elk License and lists 'Elk Combination - Drawing' at $1,112.00, apply by April 1.

HD 293 (South Lincoln-Nevada Creek) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 71.

District NOTE: 'Nevada Lake WMA closed Dec. 02 - May 15.' Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18.

Brow-tined bull elk: General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk: General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only youth ages 12-15 and hunters with a PTHFV.

Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land'.

Elk B licenses 293-00 and 293-01 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Other permits and B-licenses may be available for this district — not yet itemized in this dataset.

6+ point bulls: 72 of 144 total bulls harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllSpikeBull6+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025Not published231014472
2024154915610.1%30.2%845.4%151%
2023Not published13539739
2022113814112.4%00%1049.1%363.2%
2021Not published12409240

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025Not published208Not published24
202414371389.6%1121816.1%
2023Not published115Not published21
2022104713312.7%9288.7%
2021Not published116Not published8

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2024.

Mule Deer

Resident licenses

General Deer License

Availability: Over the counter

✅ Includes antlered buck mule deer

Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; the resident license availability chart (p. 12) lists no application deadline for it, and residents may instead buy a Sportsman's License that includes one.

HD 293 (South Lincoln-Nevada Creek) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 71.

District NOTE: 'Nevada Lake WMA closed Dec. 02 - May 15.' Either-sex white-tailed deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Oct 30.

Antlered buck mule deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlered buck white-tailed deer: General Oct 31-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Either-sex white-tailed deer: General Oct 31-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only youth ages 10-15'.

No deer B licenses or deer permits are listed for HD 293.

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Nonresident licenses

General Deer License

Availability: Draw

✅ Includes antlered buck mule deer

Most nonresidents cannot buy their general deer license over the counter.

Per 'Deer Licenses & Permits - General Deer License' (p. 15), they must obtain a General Deer License through one of the following drawings: the Big Game (deer and elk) Combination License (17,000 issued), the Deer Combination License (4,600 issued), or a Landowner Sponsored License (2,000 issued); nonresidents can apply for only one of these combo licenses each year, and the random lottery drawing deadline is April 1.

The separate NONRESIDENT License and Permit Availability Chart (p. 13) states that the Deer Combination includes a General Deer License and lists 'Deer Combination - Drawing' at $760.00, apply by April 1.

HD 293 (South Lincoln-Nevada Creek) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 71.

District NOTE: 'Nevada Lake WMA closed Dec. 02 - May 15.' Either-sex white-tailed deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Oct 30.

Antlered buck mule deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlered buck white-tailed deer: General Oct 31-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Either-sex white-tailed deer: General Oct 31-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only youth ages 10-15'.

No deer B licenses or deer permits are listed for HD 293.

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Other permits and B-licenses may be available for this district — not yet itemized in this dataset.

4+ point mule deer bucks: 14 of 63 mule deer bucks harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
20251065666.2%635.9%141.3%
2024Not published606030
20231061837.8%807.5%403.8%
2022Not published818127
2021977505.1%505.1%161.6%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025984495%811721%
2024Not published53Not published8
2023982747.5%79911.4%
2022Not published67Not published14
2021919404.4%581017.2%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.