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Montana deer & elk hunting district · 2026–27

HD 281 — Upper Blackfoot

FWP Region 2 (West-central) · Lewis and Clark and Powell counties. Every deer and elk license, season and restriction FWP lists for this district, from the 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations (p. 67, 68).

Check what's legal for you in HD 281 →Ducks, birds & shooting hours here

General season

Oct 24 – Oct 30

Archery only

Sep 5 – Oct 18

FWP region

2 · West-central

Counties

Lewis and Clark, Powell

Deer in HD 281

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 – Oct 30	— p. 67
General Deer License	Antlered Buck Mule Deer	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 67
General Deer License	Antlered Buck White-tailed Deer	OTC (general license)	General Oct 31 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 67
General Deer License	Either-sex White-tailed Deer	OTC (general license)	General Oct 31 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only youth ages 10-15. p. 67
Deer B License 281-00	Antlerless White-tailed Deer	Jun 1 Quota 25	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 67

Elk in HD 281

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. 68
General Elk License	Brow-tined Bull Elk	OTC (general license)	General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 68
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. Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. p. 68
Elk B License 281-01	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota 25	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 68

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 281.

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 280 North Blackfoot HD 282 Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA →

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.