Montana Pronghorn

Unit 413-20 (HD 413, Permit 20)

Montana Hunting Guide — Pronghorn

HD 413 is a sprawling eastern Montana hunting district spanning Carter and Powder River county grasslands south of the Yellowstone drainage. Permit 20 is a limited pronghorn antelope tag drawn through Montana FWP's limited permit system. The unit holds pronghorn in classic shortgrass prairie and sagebrush flats, with scattered coulees and dry creek drainages that bucks use for shade and escape cover. Tag numbers are tightly managed to maintain healthy buck-to-doe ratios across the district.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 413-20

Where to Find Pronghorn in HD 413

Pronghorn in HD 413 are distributed across open shortgrass prairie and sagebrush flats throughout Carter and Powder River counties. Unlike mountainous western units, pronghorn here are fully exposed and visible at distance — locating animals is rarely the challenge. The difficulty lies in closing the gap on the featureless terrain.

Sagebrush Flats and Prairie Benches

The highest concentrations of pronghorn occur on wide-open sagebrush benches, particularly near seasonal water sources like stock tanks and earthen ponds. Glass from elevated road shoulders or high ridgelines with quality optics. Early morning and late evening, animals feed across the flats and are easiest to pattern.

Coulees and Dry Creek Drainages

Mature bucks often bed in the shade of cut coulees and dry drainages during midday heat, especially in September when temperatures remain high. Check drainage edges and the shadowed faces of eroded gullies. These features also funnel movement corridors that help predict buck travel routes.

Ranch Water Sources

Stock ponds and windmill tanks are magnets for pronghorn in hot, dry conditions. Many of these are on private land — always confirm access and obtain landowner permission before hunting near any water feature on private ground.

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How to Hunt Pronghorn in HD 413

Eastern Montana pronghorn hunting in HD 413 is primarily a spot-and-stalk game on open country. Long-range optics, careful approach planning, and patience are more important than calling or stands.

Glass-and-Stalk Approach

Identify a target buck from distance — ideally 600 yards or more — before beginning a stalk. Use coulees, swales, and terrain breaks to stay below the pronghorn's line of sight. Pronghorn have exceptional wide-angle vision and will spot movement at extreme distances. Move only when animals have their heads down feeding.

Decoy and Flag Tactics

During the September rut, a pronghorn decoy or simple white-flag distraction can pull dominant bucks across open ground. Set up with the wind in your favor and position a silhouette decoy at your intended shooting range. This technique works best early in the season before bucks become pressure-wary.

Vehicle Spotting

In eastern MT, accessing public land often means driving county roads and BLM two-tracks. Slow-roll gravel roads at dawn and dusk to glass long distances. Once a legal buck is spotted on accessible land, plan a ground stalk. Shooting from or across a road is illegal — always move off-road before taking a shot.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Montana limited pronghorn permits are managed to achieve high success rates — most eastern MT limited permits see 70–90% harvest success when hunter effort is applied over a full season. Check current FWP harvest reports for HD 413-specific data. Tag numbers are set conservatively to protect population objectives.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	0	31	0.0%	0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Montana uses a preference-point system for limited pronghorn permits. Applicants accumulate one point per year of unsuccessful application. HD 413 Permit 20 is a limited eastern MT antelope tag — demand varies year to year based on tag availability. Check FWP Drawing Statistics for current applicant counts and point totals for this permit code.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Scarce. Carry all drinking water. Stock tanks and ponds exist but are unreliable for human use.

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Road Conditions

Improved gravel county roads and BLM two-tracks. High-clearance vehicle recommended. Roads can become impassable when wet.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy to moderate. Flat to gently rolling shortgrass prairie and sagebrush. Limited vertical terrain.

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Hunting Pressure

Low — eastern MT limited permits see far fewer hunters than western units. Private land dominates much of the region.

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Weather

September temperatures can be warm during early season. Prepare for rapid weather changes and strong prairie winds throughout the hunt.

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Cell Service

Very limited — spotty coverage on ridge tops. Carry a satellite communicator.

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Nearest Town

Ekalaka (Carter County seat) or Broadus (Powder River County seat), both within 30–60 minutes of the unit core.

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Permit Notes

Limited permit required. Confirm season dates, tag requirements, and check-station obligations in the current Montana Hunting Regulations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points does it take to draw the HD 413 Permit 20 pronghorn tag?

Point requirements for eastern Montana pronghorn permits vary based on annual tag allocation and applicant pressure. Check FWP Drawing Statistics at myfwp.mt.gov for current point data for permit 413-20. Eastern MT pronghorn permits are often accessible with fewer points than western deer/elk permits.

Is there public land in HD 413 for pronghorn hunting?

HD 413 contains a mix of BLM public land and private ranch land. Carter and Powder River counties have significant BLM blocks, but navigating access requires careful map study. Download the BLM Surface Management map for southeastern Montana and identify public parcels before your hunt. Montana's Block Management Program may also provide access to private land — check the FWP Block Management Atlas for participating ranches in the district.

What caliber is best for eastern Montana pronghorn?

Open country in HD 413 can produce shots from 200 to 500 yards depending on terrain and stalk opportunity. A flat-shooting cartridge in the .243–.30-06 range works well. Many hunters prefer the 6.5 Creedmoor, .25-06, or .270 for their balance of velocity and manageable recoil. Practice at realistic field ranges before your hunt.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

FWP Drawing Statistics — Limited Permit Draw — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Draw statistics for permit 413-20, Applicant counts and tag allocations · accessed 2026-04-18
Montana Hunting Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Season dates, Weapon restrictions, Reporting requirements · accessed 2026-04-18