CHANGES TO LATE ELK SHOULDER SEASON CURRENTLY IN EFFECT
By angelamontana

Posted: December 6, 2021

With general season at an end, elk hunters still have opportunity with late antlerless elk seasons in many hunting districts around the state.

Earlier this year, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved changes to elk shoulder seasons in several hunting districts and hunters interested in participating should review the updated regulations online.

Elk shoulder season changes made by the commission include:

  • a shoulder season in hunting district 314 that applies to elk B license 314-00 only and is not valid on public lands;
  • extending shoulder season to Feb. 15 for HDs 262, 290, 298, 314, 390, 391, 393, 411 east of Montana Highway 238 only, 417, 502, 510, 511, 520, 530, 540, 560, 575, 580 and 590;
  • including public lands in expanded shoulder seasons in HD 411 east of highway 238 and HDs 417, 530, 540, 580 and 590. These public lands include the Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area. The commission made this change in an effort to determine whether hunters would see more harvest with shoulder seasons being valid on public land.

Elk shoulder seasons provide the ability to harvest more antlerless elk. Several hunting districts remain above population objective even with late shoulder seasons. The extension applies to all elk licenses and permits valid for shoulder seasons in these hunting districts except in HD 314, where license 314-00 is now valid through Feb. 15.

The 2021 Deer, Elk, Antelope Hunting Regulations posted on the FWP website, show the changes. See the attached list of 2021 late elk shoulder seasons. For more information on elk shoulder seasons, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/elk-shoulder-seasons.

 

2021 LATE ELK SHOULDER SEASONS

Hunters must refer to the online 2021 Deer, Elk, Antelope Hunting regulations for specific hunting district details.

Download table: 2021 Late Elk Shoulder Seasons Dates (PDF)

Region Valid in Hunting District(s) License Type Shoulder Season Dates
1 HD 101 Elk Permit: 199-00 Aug 15 – Feb 15
HD 109 Elk Permit: 199-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 121 Elk Permit: 121-02 Nov 29 – Feb 15
2 HD 240 Elk B License: 240-01 Nov 29 – Jan 15
HD 260 General Elk License Sep 04 – Jan 15
Elk B License: 201-01 Oct 23 – Jan 15
Elk B License: 262-01 Sep 04 – Jan 15
HD 262 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 262-01
HD 290 Elk B License: 290-01 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 298 Elk B License: 290-01 Nov 29 – Feb 15
3 HD 309 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 397-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 311 and 312 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 397-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 313 and 317 Elk B License: 317-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 314 Elk B License: 314-00 Nov. 29 – Feb 15
HD 390, 391 and 393 Elk B License: 389-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
4 HD 410 Elk B License: 410-02 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 411 General Elk License/

Elk B License: 004-00

Nov 29 – Jan 1(only valid west of Hwy 238. Not on National Forest land)
Nov 29 – Feb 15(only valid east of Hwy 238)
Elk B License: 411-00 Nov 29 – Feb 1(west of Hwy 238, HD 511 and 530)
Nov 29 – Feb 15(east of Hwy 238, HD 511 and 530)
HD 412 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 004-00
HD 417 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 004-00
HD 419 General Elk License Nov 29 – Jan 15
Elk B License: 004-00
HD 421, 423 and 444 General Elk License Jan 01 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 004-00
 

 

HD 422

General Elk License Jan 01 – Feb 15

 

Elk B License: 004-00
Elk B License: 422-00
 

HD 445 and 446

General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 004-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 447 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 004-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 451 and 452 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 004-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
5 HD 500 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 005-00
Elk B License: 595-00
HD 502 and 510 Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 511 and 530 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 005-00
Elk B License: 411-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 520 Elk B License: 520-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 540 Elk B License: 540-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 560 Elk B License: 560-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 570 General Elk License Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 005-00
Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 575 and 590 Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
HD 580 Elk B License: 580-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
Elk B License: 595-00 Nov 29 – Feb 15
6 HD 620, 621 and 622 Elk B License: 699-00 Dec 15 – Feb 15
HD 690 Elk B License: 690-01 Dec 15 – Feb 15

 

** Some licenses are not valid in all hunting district portions or for all shoulder season dates as described.  See individual hunting district regulations

Photo credit: Trapline Design and Photography

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