HD 426

Elk

27.9% 2024 · 319 hunters

Residents
Over the counter
Nonresidents
Draw

Mule deer

40.1% 2025 · 835 hunters

Residents
Over the counter
Nonresidents
Draw

Whitetail

13.5% 2025 · 835 hunters

Residents
Over the counter
Nonresidents
Draw

Elk

Resident licenses

General Elk License

Availability: Over the counter

Not included 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

Not included 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 published122—0—52—46—
20243198927.9%20.6%5517.2%4714.7%
2023Not published106—0—45—31—
20223229128.3%00.0%5015.5%4213.0%
2021Not published67—0—49—35—

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
2025Not published103—Not published19—
20242667427.8%531528.3%
2023Not published71—Not published35—
20222697628.3%531528.3%
2021Not published61—Not published6—

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2024.

Mule Deer

Resident licenses

General Deer License

Availability: Over the counter

Included 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

Included 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)

Deer rates divide each species' harvest by all deer hunters in the district — FWP doesn't count mule deer and whitetail hunters separately.

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
202583533540.1%31637.8%22927.4%
2024Not published498—477—320—
2023103851950.0%48646.8%34533.2%
2022Not published556—475—313—
2021141972551.1%63544.7%45432.0%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
202565223235.6%18310356.3%
2024Not published368—Not published130—
202380837946.9%23114060.6%
2022Not published392—Not published165—
2021103948646.8%38023962.9%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.

Whitetail

Resident licenses

General Deer License

Availability: Over the counter

Included Includes antlered buck whitetail

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.

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

Included Includes antlered buck whitetail

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.

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 whitetail bucks: 30 of 51 whitetail bucks harvested (2025)

Deer rates divide each species' harvest by all deer hunters in the district — FWP doesn't count mule deer and whitetail hunters separately.

Success rate history

YearHuntersAllBuck4+ pt
HarvestRateHarvestRateHarvestRate
202583511313.5%516.1%303.6%
2024Not published129—88—76—
2023103813813.3%898.6%615.9%
2022Not published159—89—79—
202114191278.9%825.8%664.7%

Success by residency

YearResidentsNonresidents
HuntersHarvestRateHuntersHarvestRate
20256527912.1%1833418.6%
2024Not published81—Not published48—
20238088810.9%2315021.6%
2022Not published130—Not published29—
20211039939.0%380348.9%

Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.