Best whitetail hunting units in Montana
Ranked by 2021–2025 success rate · Montana FWP harvest reports
- 61.0%
- HD 170 ranks #1, 2021–2025
- 23.4%
- statewide whitetail average
- 136
- districts with 100+ hunters a year
These are the Montana hunting districts where whitetail hunters did best from 2021 to 2025, ranked from Montana FWP's harvest reports. Each rate is total whitetail 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 whitetail-only number would. The General Deer License covers whitetail in every district, so the questions that matter are access and season dates. Open each district's page to check them, 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 170 | 61.0% | 64.5% (2025) | 2,463 | 68.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 2 | HD 444 | 60.8% | 58.5% (2025) | 812 | 78.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 3 | HD 309 | 56.6% | 43.1% (2025) | 731 | 82.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 4 | HD 260 | 52.1% | 56.0% (2025) | 1,079 | 69.1% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 5 | HD 262 | 49.5% | 40.7% (2025) | 753 | 69.8% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 6 | HD 445 | 46.3% | 51.4% (2025) | 1,254 | 80.8% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 7 | HD 580 | 42.9% | 35.5% (2025) | 1,227 | 80.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 8 | HD 100 | 41.5% | 36.9% (2025) | 2,671 | 60.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 9 | HD 411 | 38.9% | 34.9% (2025) | 2,476 | 83.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 10 | HD 311 | 38.7% | 40.0% (2025) | 1,719 | 80.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 11 | HD 101 | 38.3% | 36.6% (2025) | 2,732 | 61.9% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 12 | HD 250 | 37.1% | 35.0% (2025) | 399 | 68.9% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 13 | HD 240 | 36.5% | 31.9% (2025) | 2,076 | 61.7% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 14 | HD 406 | 34.7% | 28.3% (2025) | 689 | 77.8% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 15 | HD 261 | 34.3% | 35.8% (2025) | 455 | 76.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
The top 5
- HD 170 put 61.0% of whitetail hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 68.0% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 444 put 60.8% of whitetail hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 78.0% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 309 put 56.6% of whitetail hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 82.4% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 260 put 52.1% of whitetail hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 69.1% of harvested bucks at 4+ points. Residents buy the General Deer License over the counter; nonresidents draw.
- HD 262 put 49.5% of whitetail hunters on an animal across 2021, 2023, and 2025, with 69.8% 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 100 | 55.0% | 53.8% (2025) | 358 | 60.5% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 2 | HD 103 | 46.9% | 42.5% (2025) | 174 | 65.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 3 | HD 445 | 44.2% | 45.6% (2025) | 143 | 80.8% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 4 | HD 535 | 43.3% | 56.8% (2025) | 164 | 78.8% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 5 | HD 101 | 40.7% | 39.5% (2025) | 119 | 61.9% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 6 | HD 311 | 39.7% | 24.7% (2025) | 134 | 80.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 7 | HD 580 | 38.6% | 25.3% (2025) | 273 | 80.4% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 8 | HD 412 | 38.1% | 35.7% (2025) | 346 | 82.0% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 9 | HD 404 | 36.4% | 33.3% (2025) | 157 | 81.6% | Over the counter | Draw |
| 10 | HD 411 | 35.3% | 33.3% (2025) | 345 | 83.5% | 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 "—".