HD 413

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 413 (Northwest Little Belt Mountains) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 94.

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

District NOTE: HD 413 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Missouri River between the mouth of Sand Coulee Crk downstream to Great Falls city limits (this includes Park and Taylor Islands and all other unnamed islands) restricted to ArchEquip only.

Elk B license 004-00 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 413 (Northwest Little Belt Mountains) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 94.

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

District NOTE: HD 413 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Missouri River between the mouth of Sand Coulee Crk downstream to Great Falls city limits (this includes Park and Taylor Islands and all other unnamed islands) restricted to ArchEquip only.

Elk B license 004-00 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: 92 of 162 total bulls harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllSpikeBull6+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025Not published374315992
2024199431715.9%00%1587.9%884.4%
2023Not published3483200109
2022178940622.7%00%21311.9%1206.7%
2021Not published2381211158

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025Not published318Not published56
2024162424515.1%3707219.5%
2023Not published255Not published93
2022144630321%34310430.3%
2021Not published183Not published55

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 413 (Northwest Little Belt Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 94.

Antlerless White-tailed Deer: Late Nov 30-Jan 15, 'Only valid in Great Falls portion of HD 413.

See Legal Description.'.

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

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

District NOTE: HD 413 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Missouri River between the mouth of Sand Coulee Crk downstream to Great Falls city limits (this includes Park and Taylor Islands and all other unnamed islands) restricted to ArchEquip only.

Deer B licenses 004-00, 004-01 and 413-00 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 413 (Northwest Little Belt Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 94.

Antlerless White-tailed Deer: Late Nov 30-Jan 15, 'Only valid in Great Falls portion of HD 413.

See Legal Description.'.

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

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

District NOTE: HD 413 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Missouri River between the mouth of Sand Coulee Crk downstream to Great Falls city limits (this includes Park and Taylor Islands and all other unnamed islands) restricted to ArchEquip only.

Deer B licenses 004-00, 004-01 and 413-00 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: 303 of 502 mule deer bucks harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025260956421.6%50219.2%30311.6%
2024Not published754684411
2023278373226.3%67124.1%43015.5%
2022Not published776673413
2021190153228%43622.9%23112.2%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025223344720%37611831.4%
2024Not published636Not published117
2023245460324.6%33012939.1%
2022Not published657Not published119
2021167745126.9%2258236.4%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.