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Montana deer & elk hunting district · 2026–27

HD 540 — Southeast Little Belt Mountains

FWP Region 5 (South-central) · Wheatland and Meagher counties. Every deer and elk license, season and restriction FWP lists for this district, from the 2026 Deer, Elk & Antelope Regulations (p. 110).

Check what's legal for you in HD 540 →Ducks, birds & shooting hours here

General season

Oct 24 – Nov 29

Archery only

Sep 5 – Oct 18

FWP region

5 · South-central

Counties

Wheatland, Meagher

Check before you hunt here

Haymaker WMA closed to all hunting Dec 2 - May 14. (Dec 2 – May 14)

Deer in HD 540

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. 110
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. 110
General Deer License	Either-sex 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. 110
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. 110

Elk in HD 540

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. 110
General Elk License	Either-sex Elk	OTC (general license)	Archery only Sep 5 – Oct 18 General Oct 24 – Nov 29 Heritage muzzleloader Dec 12 – Dec 20	— p. 110
Elk B License 005-00	Antlerless Elk	OTC: Jun 15 Quota UNL	Early Aug 15 – Sep 4	Only valid on private land. p. 110
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. 110

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 540.

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 535 Southern Snowy Mountains HD 555 Pryor Mountains-Cottonwood Triangle →

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.