The East Deer Lodge district encompasses parts of Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, and Powell Counties. It is situated east of Interstate 90, stretching from the community of Garrison in the north to Butte in the south. The eastern third of the district is covered by Helena National Forest, extending from U.S. Highway 12 to Interstate 90. Elk are prevalent throughout the area. The western third is largely privately owned, although thousands of acres of public access are available through Wildlife and Block Management Areas.
Land closures: Spotted Dog WMA Closed Dec. 02-May 15
August 15, 2026 – October 23, 2026
| Opportunity | Method | Availability | License or Permit | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antlerless | — | Draw |
| Land: Only Valid On Private Lands And NOT VALID East Of Brown's Gulch Creek. |
September 5, 2026 – October 18, 2026
| Opportunity | Method | Availability | License or Permit | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antlerless | Archery | Draw |
| — |
| Antlerless, Brow Tined Bull | Archery | — |
| — |
October 24, 2026 – November 29, 2026
| Opportunity | Method | Availability | License or Permit | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antlerless | — | Draw |
| Land: Only Valid On Private Lands And DNRC Lands Outside The National Forest Boundary. NOT VALID On FWP WMAs Or East Of Brown's Gulch Creek. |
| Antlerless | — | Draw |
| — |
| Antlerless, Brow Tined Bull | — | — |
| Eligibility: PTHFV, Youth Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. |
| Brow Tined Bull | — | — |
| — |
November 30, 2026 – January 8, 2027
| Opportunity | Method | Availability | License or Permit | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antlerless | — | Draw |
| Land: Only Valid On Private Lands And DNRC Lands Outside The National Forest Boundary. NOT VALID On FWP WMAs Or East Of Brown's Gulch Creek. |
December 12, 2026 – December 20, 2026
| Opportunity | Method | Availability | License or Permit | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antlerless | Muzzleloader | Draw |
| — |
| Antlerless, Brow Tined Bull | Muzzleloader | — |
| Eligibility: PTHFV, Youth Resident hunters 75 years old and older may harvest an antlerless elk on private land. |
| Brow Tined Bull | Muzzleloader | — |
| — |
| Residency | Eligibility | Availability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident | Ages 12–17, 18–61, and 62+; Youth, senior, and disabled hunters | DrawApplication deadline June 1, 2026 | $25.00 |
| Nonresident | — | DrawApplication deadline June 1, 2026 | $275.00Application fee included in price |
| Residency | Eligibility | Availability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident | Ages 12–17, 18–61, and 62+; Youth, senior, and disabled hunters | DrawApplication deadline June 1, 2026 | $25.00 |
| Nonresident | — | DrawApplication deadline June 1, 2026 | $275.00Application fee included in price |
| Residency | Eligibility | Availability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident | Disabled hunters | OTC | $10.00 |
| Resident | Ages 12–17 and 62+; Youth and senior hunters | OTC | $10.00 |
| Resident | Ages 18–61 | OTC | $20.00 |
Modeled first-choice draw odds by bonus points. Estimates are capped at 99.99% and do not represent a guaranteed draw.
Hunter and success statistics include reported years only.
Latest Estimated Harvest (2025)346
Latest Estimated Hunters (2024)2,076
Hunter Days (2024)18,232
Days per Hunter (2024)9
Harvest Success (2024)13.7%