HD 540
Elk
25.0%
Mule deer
14.3%
Whitetail
18.4%
Elk
Resident licenses
General Elk License
Availability: Over the counter
Included 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 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 110.
Antlerless Elk: Early Aug 15-Sep 04, 'Only valid on private land.'.
Either-sex Elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.
District NOTE: Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14 Elk B license 005-00 is also listed for this HD; not itemized here (general license only).
Source: FWP regulations (2026)
Nonresident licenses
General Elk License
Availability: Draw
Included 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 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains) General Elk License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 110.
Antlerless Elk: Early Aug 15-Sep 04, 'Only valid on private land.'.
Either-sex Elk: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.
District NOTE: Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14 Elk B license 005-00 is 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: 31 of 97 total bulls harvested (2025)
Success rate history
| Year | Hunters | All | Spike | Bull | 6+ pt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | ||
| 2025 | Not published | 205 | — | 14 | — | 83 | — | 31 | — |
| 2024 | 1259 | 315 | 25.0% | 15 | 1.2% | 81 | 6.4% | 50 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | Not published | 299 | — | 18 | — | 88 | — | 30 | — |
| 2022 | 1188 | 292 | 24.6% | 19 | 1.6% | 122 | 10.3% | 47 | 4.0% |
| 2021 | Not published | 268 | — | 19 | — | 100 | — | 35 | — |
Success by residency
| Year | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunters | Harvest | Rate | Hunters | Harvest | Rate | |
| 2025 | Not published | 133 | — | Not published | 72 | — |
| 2024 | 882 | 193 | 21.9% | 377 | 122 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | Not published | 195 | — | Not published | 104 | — |
| 2022 | 835 | 214 | 25.6% | 354 | 79 | 22.3% |
| 2021 | Not published | 165 | — | Not published | 103 | — |
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 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 110.
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.
Either-sex Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only youth ages 10-15.
Only valid on private land.'.
District NOTE: Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14 Deer B license 005-00 is 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 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 110.
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.
Either-sex Mule Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20, 'Only youth ages 10-15.
Only valid on private land.'.
District NOTE: Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14 Deer B license 005-00 is 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: 39 of 111 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
| Year | Hunters | All | Buck | 4+ pt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | ||
| 2025 | 859 | 123 | 14.3% | 111 | 12.9% | 39 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | Not published | 102 | — | 100 | — | 40 | — |
| 2023 | 739 | 82 | 11.1% | 78 | 10.6% | 45 | 6.1% |
| 2022 | Not published | 141 | — | 126 | — | 68 | — |
| 2021 | 826 | 133 | 16.1% | 124 | 15.0% | 75 | 9.1% |
Success by residency
| Year | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunters | Harvest | Rate | Hunters | Harvest | Rate | |
| 2025 | 707 | 92 | 13.0% | 152 | 31 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | Not published | 87 | — | Not published | 16 | — |
| 2023 | 597 | 61 | 10.2% | 142 | 21 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | Not published | 106 | — | Not published | 34 | — |
| 2021 | 638 | 82 | 12.9% | 189 | 51 | 27.0% |
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 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 110.
Either-sex White-tailed Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.
District NOTE: Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14 Deer B license 005-00 is 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 540 (Southeast Little Belt Mountains) General Deer License opportunities, 2026 regulations p. 110.
Either-sex White-tailed Deer: Archery Only Sep 05-Oct 18, General Oct 24-Nov 29, Heritage Muzzleloader Dec 12-Dec 20.
District NOTE: Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14 Deer B license 005-00 is 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: 57 of 75 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
| Year | Hunters | All | Buck | 4+ pt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | ||
| 2025 | 859 | 158 | 18.4% | 75 | 8.7% | 57 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | Not published | 166 | — | 94 | — | 67 | — |
| 2023 | 739 | 128 | 17.3% | 75 | 10.1% | 65 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | Not published | 129 | — | 67 | — | 44 | — |
| 2021 | 826 | 78 | 9.4% | 38 | 4.6% | 11 | 1.3% |
Success by residency
| Year | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunters | Harvest | Rate | Hunters | Harvest | Rate | |
| 2025 | 707 | 140 | 19.8% | 152 | 18 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | Not published | 137 | — | Not published | 29 | — |
| 2023 | 597 | 90 | 15.1% | 142 | 38 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | Not published | 92 | — | Not published | 37 | — |
| 2021 | 638 | 56 | 8.8% | 189 | 22 | 11.6% |
Source: Montana FWP harvest reports, 2025.