Unit 324-00 (Pioneer Mountains Elk 324-00)

Montana Hunting Guide — Elk

HD 324-00 is a limited-permit elk hunt in southwest Montana's Pioneer Mountains. Tags are issued through Montana FWP's special drawing under the state's preference point system. We recommend reviewing FWP Plan-a-Hunt for HD boundaries, public-land layers, and current permit-area rules before applying.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 324-00

Where to Find Elk in HD 324-00

Elk in HD 324-00 occupy the high basins, timbered ridges, and mountain meadows of the interior Pioneer Range. We focus scouting on north-aspect Douglas fir and lodgepole between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with attention to wallows, seeps, and burn transitions where bulls concentrate during the rut.

Use FWP Plan-a-Hunt to identify USFS boundaries, BMAs, and access trailheads. A significant portion of the district is roadless wilderness-quality country, rewarding hunters willing to backpack or pack in with stock.

How to Hunt Elk in HD 324-00

We treat HD 324-00 as a backcountry glassing-and-calling hunt. Camp at elevation, glass opposing basins at first and last light, then move in when a bull commits to a feed pattern. Rut bugles and cow calls are productive in the higher basins where road noise is absent.

Plan pack-out logistics in advance — recovery from interior basins can involve long packs or stock support. Review FWP regulations for legal-elk criteria and verify any weapon-specific dates for HD 324-00 before the opener.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle23%

Permit-area elk hunts in the interior Pioneers typically post success rates well above the Montana general-season average because of reduced hunter density and quality bull ratios. Pull current HD 324-00 numbers from the FWP harvest report portal before the hunt.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— B License	88	137	64.2%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

HD 324-00 tags are issued through FWP's special drawing under Montana's preference point system. Three-year applicant counts near 131 against roughly 98 permits imply favorable per-draw odds in most years. Preference points improve long-run odds without guaranteeing a tag — check FWP drawing statistics each spring.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Interior Pioneer basins require sustained climbs, deadfall navigation, and often backcountry camping.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. Permit caps and backcountry access keep hunter density minimal relative to general-season units.

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Weather

High-elevation weather is volatile; expect snow, wind, and below-freezing nights in October and November.

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Permit Notes

HD 324-00 is a special-draw permit hunt. Apply before the published FWP spring deadline and confirm legal-elk criteria.

Note: Use Dillon or Wise River as staging towns. Stock-assisted hunts are common for interior Pioneer basins — reserve outfitters well in advance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is HD 324-00 a backcountry hunt?

Portions of HD 324-00 are remote interior Pioneer country that rewards backcountry camping or stock support. Confirm access and roadless-area boundaries with FWP Plan-a-Hunt.

How many preference points improve HD 324-00 odds meaningfully?

With roughly 131 three-year applicants and about 98 permits, base odds are already favorable and accumulated preference points further improve long-run draw success. Review FWP drawing statistics each spring for the current year's picture.

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Sources & Verification

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

FWP Plan-a-Hunt — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 324-00 boundary geometry, Public-access and ownership layers · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Hunt Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Elk season structure, Permit-area legal-elk criteria · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Applicant and quota history for HD 324-00, Preference point draw effect · accessed 2026-04-17