HD 411

Elk

Resident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Over the counter

⚠️ Bull elk is not included in this general license — it requires a separate drawn permit or B-license. See the full regulation text below for details.

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 411 (Snowy Mountains) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 93.

Antlerless Elk: Early Aug 15-Sep 04, 'Only valid on private land.'.

Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlerless Elk: Late Nov 30-Feb 15, 'Not valid on National Forest land.'.

Elk B licenses 004-00 and 411-00 and Elk Permits 411-20 and 411-21 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

Source: FWP regulations (2026)

Nonresident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Draw

⚠️ Bull elk is not included in this general license — it requires a separate drawn permit or B-license. See the full regulation text below for details.

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 411 (Snowy Mountains) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 93.

Antlerless Elk: Early Aug 15-Sep 04, 'Only valid on private land.'.

Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlerless Elk: Late Nov 30-Feb 15, 'Not valid on National Forest land.'.

Elk B licenses 004-00 and 411-00 and Elk Permits 411-20 and 411-21 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: 378 of 481 total bulls harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllSpikeBull6+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025Not published84513468378
2024228388938.9%321.4%34114.9%28212.4%
2023Not published84617281245
2022230369530.2%60.3%26111.3%1998.6%
2021Not published50030162100

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025Not published723Not published122
2024188675239.9%39713734.5%
2023Not published728Not published118
2022194458330%36011130.8%
2021Not published425Not published76

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 411 (Snowy Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 93.

Either-sex White-tailed Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlered Buck Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Deer B licenses 004-00, 004-01 and 411-01 are also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).

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 411 (Snowy Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 93.

Either-sex White-tailed Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Antlered Buck Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.

Deer B licenses 004-00, 004-01 and 411-01 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.

4+ point mule deer bucks: 226 of 371 mule deer bucks harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025238339416.5%37115.6%2269.5%
2024Not published439417245
2023239043318.1%38416.1%28211.8%
2022Not published435350232
2021265463523.9%52319.7%34713.1%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025206329114.1%32110332.1%
2024Not published313Not published126
2023204333116.2%34710229.4%
2022Not published326Not published110
2021228651422.5%36812132.9%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.