HD 426

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 426 (Winifred) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 100.

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

District NOTE: Beckman WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840.

Elk B license 004-00 and Elk Permits 417-21 and 426-20 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 426 (Winifred) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 100.

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

District NOTE: Beckman WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840.

Elk B license 004-00 and Elk Permits 417-21 and 426-20 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: 46 of 52 total bulls harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllSpikeBull6+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
2025Not published12205246
20243198927.9%20.6%5517.2%4714.7%
2023Not published10604531
20223229128.3%00%5015.5%4213%
2021Not published6704935

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025Not published103Not published19
20242667427.8%531528.3%
2023Not published71Not published35
20222697628.3%531528.3%
2021Not published61Not published6

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 426 (Winifred) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 100.

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 15.

District NOTE: Beckman WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840.

Deer B licenses 004-00, 004-01 and 426-00 and Deer Permit 426-50 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 426 (Winifred) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 100.

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 15.

District NOTE: Beckman WMA Area Map and Rules available at FWP-R4 HQ 406-454-5840.

Deer B licenses 004-00, 004-01 and 426-00 and Deer Permit 426-50 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: 229 of 316 mule deer bucks harvested (2025)

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
202583533540.1%31637.8%22927.4%
2024Not published498477320
2023103851950%48646.8%34533.2%
2022Not published556475313
2021141972551.1%63544.7%45432%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
202565223235.6%18310356.3%
2024Not published368Not published130
202380837946.9%23114060.6%
2022Not published392Not published165
2021103948646.8%38023962.9%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.