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Montana Elk

Unit 455-00 (HD 455 Elk (Rock Creek))

Montana Hunting Guide — Elk

HD 455-00 is the general elk license for the Rock Creek drainage south of Missoula. 645 applicants pulled 250 tags over three years, making this the easier-to-draw counterpart to the 455-20 sheep permit. Mixed timber, clearcut edges, and creek-bottom corridors hold both residents and migratory elk depending on snow.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 455-00

HD 455-00 is the general elk license for the Rock Creek drainage south of Missoula. 645 applicants pulled 250 tags over three years, making this the easier-to-draw counterpart to the 455-20 sheep permit. Mixed timber, clearcut edges, and creek-bottom corridors hold both residents and migratory elk depending on snow.

Where to Find Elk in HD 455

Elk concentrate on the timbered benches between Rock Creek and the Sapphire divide. Early season elk hold high in the burn edges; rifle season elk shift to mid-elevation timber with south-facing feeding parks.

How to Hunt HD 455 Elk

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle23%
With 250 tags per cycle and moderate hunter density, Rock Creek elk success sits near the statewide average of 15–20% for rifle. Archery hunters who know the burns outperform rifle in some years.

Elk Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— B License24363338.4% 0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine
Roughly 39% raw draw rate (3-year). Preference points help but are not required in every cycle. Non-residents should verify 10% cap implications before applying.

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Sources & Verification

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

  1. 2026 Deer, Elk, and Antelope Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 455 elk license, Season dates, General vs limited permits · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. FWP Hunt Planner — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 455 ownership layers, Road and trail access, USFS and BLM boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. FWP Harvest Reports — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 455 elk harvest, Hunter-day effort, Success by weapon · accessed 2026-04-17