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Montana deer & elk hunting district · 2026–27

HD 535 — Southern Snowy Mountains

FWP Region 5 (South-central) · Musselshell, Golden Valley, Petroleum, Wheatland and Fergus counties. Every deer and elk license, season and restriction FWP lists for this district, from the 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations (p. 109).

Check what's legal for you in HD 535 →Ducks, birds & shooting hours here

General season

Oct 24 – Nov 29

Archery only

Sep 5 – Oct 18

FWP region

5 · South-central

Counties

Musselshell, Golden Valley, Petroleum, Wheatland, Fergus

Check before you hunt here

Big Snowy Mountains WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14. (Dec 2 – May 14)

Deer in HD 535

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. 109
General Deer License	Antlerless Mule Deer	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only youth ages 10-15. Only valid on private land. p. 109
Deer B License 005-00	Antlerless White-tailed Deer	Jun 1 Quota 4,500	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Valid in all R5 HDs. p. 109
Deer B License 535-00	Antlerless Mule Deer	Jun 1 Quota 50	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Only valid on private land. p. 109
Deer Permit 535-50	Antlered Buck Mule Deer	April 1 Quota 500	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. 109

Elk in HD 535

License	Legal animal	How to get it	Seasons	Restrictions
General Elk License	Antlerless Elk	OTC (general license)	Early Aug 15 – Sep 4	Only valid on private land. p. 109
General Elk License	Spike Bull or Antlerless Elk	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 109
General Elk License	Antlerless Elk	OTC (general license)	Late Nov 30 – Feb 15	Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. p. 109
Elk B License 005-00	Antlerless Elk	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Early Aug 15 – Sep 4	Only valid on private land. p. 109
Elk B License 005-00	Antlerless Elk	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	Not valid on National Forest Lands. p. 109
Elk B License 005-00	Antlerless Elk	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Late Nov 30 – Feb 15	Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. p. 109
Elk B License 411-00	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota 1,200	Early Aug 15 – Sep 4	Only valid on private land in HDs 411 and 535. p. 109
Elk B License 411-00	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota 1,200	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29	Valid in HDs 411 and 535. p. 109
Elk B License 411-00	Antlerless Elk	Jun 1 Quota 1,200	Late Nov 30 – Feb 15	Valid in HDs 411 and 535. Not valid on FWP WMAs. p. 109
Elk Permit 411-20	Either-sex Elk	April 1 Quota 350	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	1st and only choice. Valid in HDs 411 and 535. 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. 109
Elk Permit 595-21	Either-sex Elk	April 1 Quota 1,800	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18	1st and only choice. Valid in HDs 502, 535, 555, 590, and a portion of HD 701 north of the Yellowstone River, south of Hwy 12, west of Sumatra- Hysham Rd. 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. Valid in HDs 502, 535, 555, 590, and a portion of HD 701 north of the Yellowstone River, south of Hwy 12, west of Sumatra- Hysham Rd p. 109

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 535.

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 525 Beartooth-Absaroka HD 540 Southeast Little Belt Mountains →

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.