Home › Hunting districts › Region 2 › HD 261

Montana deer & elk hunting district · 2026–27

HD 261 — East Bitterroot

FWP Region 2 (West-central) · Ravalli County. Every deer and elk license, season and restriction FWP lists for this district, from the 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations (p. 64, 65).

Check what's legal for you in HD 261 →Ducks, birds & shooting hours here

General season

Oct 24 – Nov 29

Archery only

Sep 5 – Oct 18

FWP region

2 · West-central

County

Ravalli

Check before you hunt here

Calf Creek WMA closed Dec 02-May 15. (Dec 2 – May 15)

Deer in HD 261

License	Legal animal	How to get it	Seasons	Restrictions
General Deer License	Either-sex White-tailed Deer	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only valid on private land. p. 64
General Deer License	Either-sex White-tailed Deer	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18	— p. 64
General Deer License	Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer	OTC (general license)	General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 64
General Deer License	Either-sex White-tailed Deer	OTC (general license)	General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only youth ages 10-15. p. 64
Deer B License 260-01	Antlerless White-tailed Deer	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 19 – Nov 29 Late Nov 30 – Jan 15	ArchEquip only. Hunters may purchase up to three 260-01 antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses per hunter. Only valid in HDs 201 east of Hwy 93, 204, 240, 260, 261, 262, and 270. Only valid in HDs 201 east of Hwy 93, 204, 240, 260, 261, 262, and 270 p. 64
Deer B License 261-01	Antlerless Mule Deer	Jun 1 Quota 10	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only valid on private land. p. 64
Deer B License 299-00	Antlerless White-tailed Deer	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	One per hunter. Only valid on private land in HDs 204, 240, 261, and 270. p. 64
Deer Permit 261-50	Antlered Buck Mule Deer	April 1 Quota 10	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Permit must be used with a valid General Deer License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. p. 64

Elk in HD 261

License	Legal animal	How to get it	Seasons	Restrictions
General Elk License	Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18	— p. 65
General Elk License	Brow-tined Bull Elk	OTC (general license)	General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 65
General Elk License	Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk	OTC (general license)	General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only youth ages 12-15 and hunters with a PTHFV. Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. p. 65
Elk B License 261-00	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota 50	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 65
Elk B License 262-01	Antlerless Elk	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	One per hunter. Only valid on private lands in HDs 204, 261, 262, and 270. Must purchase before start of general rifle season. Restrictions apply, see each HD for more info. p. 65

Shooting hours

Legal hunting hours for deer and elk are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, using FWP's official sunrise-sunset table for your county's zone. See today's hours for HD 261.

Hunting district boundaries are drawn from FWP's map layer and simplified for the web. Near a boundary, use the legal description in the regulations. Restricted areas, block management and private land rules still apply.

← HD 260 Bitterroot - Clark Fork Archery District HD 262 Bitterroot Farmlands →

Source: Montana FWP 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations, valid March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027. Last checked against the booklet 2026-10-30. FWP can change seasons and quotas during the year; always confirm at fwp.mt.gov.