Big Game Forecast For Region 6

A couple years of drought and the long winter in 202223 have reduced deer and elk populations in most areas of northeast Montana. FWP adjusted license quotas in many districts as needed, and many districts are at their lowest quota level for antlerless mule deer and elk.

The winters of 2023-24 and 2024-25 were mild, however, and more precipitation has improved habitat conditions in much of the region.

Elk

Surveys conducted in 2024 in the Missouri River Breaks showed elk numbers about 56 percent below long-term averages and population levels at 41 percent below the population objective identified in the Montana Elk Management Plan. In reaction, biologists reduced antlerless (cow) licenses by 550 licenses (69 percent) in HDs 620, 621 and 622 and removed the late elk shoulder season starting in 2024.

In the Bears Paw area, elk remain within population objectives. The number of antlerless elk licenses was increased from 300 to 450. There is an opportunity to hunt cow elk during the general season with a general license in HD 690.

Mule deer

Overall, spring surveys showed the region-wide mule deer densities at 22 percent below the long-term average. Surveys in 2025 showed deer densities similar to 2024, although fawn recruitment was above average. Biologists reduced antlerless mule deer B license quota levels by 1,400 (50 percent) across the region from 2,825 in 2024 to 1,425 for the 2025 hunting season.

In HDs 621 and 622, a more restrictive buck-only hunting season initiated in 2023 will continue in 2025 with no mule deer B licenses available for those districts.

Additionally, beginning in 2024, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission passed regulations that restrict antlerless mule deer harvest to occur only on private land in FWP Regions 6 and 7. As always, please read and follow all hunting regulations.

White-tailed deer White-tailed deer densities are still recovering across much of the region but can still be found in decent numbers in parts of the northeast corner and along the Milk River and associated uplands. White-tailed deer densities are still low and recovering along the eastern end of the Missouri River and nearby uplands and croplands.

Region 6 antlerless whitetail B licenses will again be available for over-the-counter purchase, and are valid across all of Region 6 to allow hunters to use the license where whitetail numbers may be higher.

There is a limit of three whitetail B licenses per resident hunter. For both mule deer and white-tailed deer, state law restricts nonresidents to no more than two deer B licenses when holding a combination license, and only one if they do not hold a combination license.

Pronghorn

In general, pronghorn populations have slowly increased during the past decade in northeast Montana. Total pronghorn numbers across the region during summer surveys were above average overall, with some variability seen between individual hunting districts.

Biologists observed an increase in pronghorn populations in several hunting districts, and license quotas were increased accordingly in HDs 600, 620, 650, 670 and 690.