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Montana deer & elk hunting district · 2026–27

HD 417 — Armells Creek

FWP Region 4 (North-central) · Fergus County. Every deer and elk license, season and restriction FWP lists for this district, from the 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations (p. 96).

Check what's legal for you in HD 417 →Ducks, birds & shooting hours here

General season

Oct 24 – Nov 29

Archery only

Sep 5 – Oct 18

FWP region

4 · North-central

County

Fergus

Check before you hunt here

HD 417 Check Restricted Area Legal Description (p 28-30) Charles M.

Russell (CMR) National Wildlife Refuge and U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers.

Elk hunters in HD 417 may also hunt on islands in the Missouri River adjacent to where their elk permit is valid.

Island is defined as land completely surrounded by water at the time of the hunt.

Deer in HD 417

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	— p. 96
Deer B License 004-00	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. Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HD 455. p. 96
Deer B License 004-01	Antlerless White-tailed Deer	Jun 1 Quota 2,000	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HD 455. p. 96
Deer B License 417-00	Antlerless Mule Deer	Jun 1 Quota 25	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only valid on private land. p. 96
Deer Permit 417-50	Antlered Buck Mule Deer	April 1 Quota 100	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. 96

Elk in HD 417

License	Legal animal	How to get it	Seasons	Restrictions
General Elk License	Antlerless Elk	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Late Nov 30 – Feb 15	Only valid south of D-Y Trail to intersection of Knox Ridge Road, then south of Knox Ridge Road thereafter. Not valid west of Stafford Ferry Rd. p. 96
Elk B License 004-00	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota UNL	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Late Nov 30 – Feb 15	Only valid south of D-Y Trail to intersection of Knox Ridge Road, then south of Knox Ridge Road thereafter. Not valid west of Stafford Ferry Rd. Not valid on National Forest lands, FWP WMAs, or CMR Refuge. Valid in all Region 4 HDs except HDs 410 and 455 as listed under each HD. p. 96
Elk B License 417-02	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota 50	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 96
Elk Permit 417-20	Either-sex Elk	April 1 Quota 225	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	1st and only choice. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. p. 96
Elk Permit 417-21	Either-sex Elk	April 1 Quota 300	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18	1st and only choice. Only valid in HDs 417 and 426. Permit must be used with a valid General Elk License. Holders may not hunt Antlered Elk in any other HD during these described season dates. p. 96

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 417.

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 416 Southwest Little Belt Mountains HD 418 South Judith Basin →

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.