Montana Elk Moose

Unit 320-00 (HD 320 — Elk General / Permit Pool)

Montana Hunting Guide — Elk, Moose

License 320-00 is the general-season elk license pool tied to HD 320 in central Montana. FWP's three-year record shows 528 applicants against roughly 381 tags — closer to a general-license hunt than a trophy draw. The HD is a mix of USFS, BLM, state, and Block Management country.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 320-00

Where to Find Elk in HD 320

HD 320's elk follow classic Montana foothill patterns — timbered ridges for bedding, grassy benches and burns for feed. The FWP Hunt Planner shows scattered USFS and BLM blocks; private-land ranches dominate the lowest elevations.

How We Hunt HD 320

Pro Members Only

Upgrade to Pro to unlock this section

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle23%

Pro Members Only

Upgrade to Pro to unlock this section

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— B License	179	259	69.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Moose Hunting in Unit 320-00

HD 320-00 is a once-in-a-lifetime Shiras moose permit in the Gallatin Range country south of Bozeman. Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat are OIAL species in Montana. We recommend using Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Plan-a-Hunt to identify the willow-lined creeks, beaver-pond complexes, and timbered benches where Gallatin bulls concentrate.

Where to Find Moose in HD 320-00

Moose in HD 320-00 key on the willow-lined creeks and riparian complexes of the upper Gallatin drainage and its tributaries. Bulls use beaver-pond areas, subalpine willow flats, and timbered north-slope benches near water. We focus on any drainage with active beaver sign, moose tracks in mud, and heavy willow regeneration.

Early morning and evening produce the most visible bulls — mid-day moose bed in adjacent conifer timber within a short walk of their preferred browse.

How to Hunt Moose in HD 320-00

We recommend patient glassing over willow flats from elevated vantages at first and last light. Once a bull is located, plan a stalk that keeps wind in your favor and uses timber edges for cover. Moose in the Gallatin are not pressured like elk, and a careful approach often closes to archery range.

Pack-out is the make-or-break logistical piece. Build the trip around two full days of meat hauling from the shot site. Bring panniers or a cart where trails allow, and line up 2–3 able packers before you ever pull the trigger.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full moose tactics for HD 320-00

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

Rifle72%

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	2	64	3.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Montana moose is a once-in-a-lifetime (OIAL) species and uses the preference-point system (not a weighted bonus formula). Each unsuccessful year adds a single point and higher-point applicants are processed first. HD 320-00 averaged roughly 76 applicants for 3 permits across the most recent three-year window — better odds than many moose HDs, but still competitive. Consult FWP Drawing Statistics for current-year applicant-by-point data.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

⛺

Camp Sites

Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds along US-191 in the Gallatin Canyon. Dispersed camping on most forest roads. Backcountry camping unrestricted on forest land.

💧

Water

Abundant. The Gallatin River and its tributaries run reliably year-round. Filter or treat.

🛣️

Road Conditions

US-191 is paved through the Gallatin Canyon. Forest spur roads range from maintained gravel to rough two-track — 4WD recommended after mid-October.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. Willow bottoms require slow, careful travel; adjacent timbered benches involve 1,500–3,000 foot elevation gains.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Big Sky (varies by location) for basic supplies and fuel. Bozeman (1 hr) for full services and meat processing.

Note: Cell service is intermittent in the Gallatin Canyon and nonexistent in the backcountry. Bring satellite communication for emergencies and pack-out coordination.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full logistics for HD 320-00 moose

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HD 320 a general-license elk hunt?

FWP's 2026 DEA regulations list HD 320 in the general license pool with permit-specific rules — confirm legal elk definition in the current year.

Is HD 320-00 moose a once-in-a-lifetime tag?

Yes. Drawing a Montana moose permit makes the hunter permanently ineligible for any future Montana moose draw. Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat are all OIAL in Montana.

How competitive is the HD 320-00 draw?

HD 320-00 averaged roughly 76 applicants for 3 permits over the most recent three-year window. That's better odds than many moose HDs, but maximum-point applicants still dominate — check FWP Drawing Statistics for the current point breakdown.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

2026 Deer, Elk, and Antelope Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 320 elk regulations · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Hunt Planner — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 320 geometry, Public-land overlays · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Harvest Reports — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 320 elk harvest and hunter success · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Plan-a-Hunt — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 320-00 boundary geometry, Public-land overlays and wilderness access · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Hunt Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Moose season structure, OIAL (once-in-a-lifetime) rules · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Historical applicant and quota counts, Preference point progression for moose · accessed 2026-04-17