The A-tag archery elk season is currently open in the Panhandle region. Right now the season is open to antlered elk only, but we’ve had many phone calls and questions regarding where hunters are allowed to harvest an antlerless elk later in the season. We want to clarify this hunting opportunity. There is a 7-day either-sex archery elk hunt on the A-tag and a 3-day either-sex any weapon hunt on the B-tag.
A-Tag- Sept 15 – Sept 21: Any elk may be taken by archery within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4*, 4A, 5, & 6.
B-Tag- Oct 15 – Oct 17: Any elk may be taken with any weapon within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4*, 4A, 5, & 6.
Note: All of Unit 4 is open for bull (antlered) harvest. However, you can only harvest a cow elk in a portion of Unit 4. Here is a description of where antlerless elk can be harvested in Unit 4 and there is a map at the end of the article.
*That portion of Unit 4 within the following boundary: starting at the junction of State Highway 97 and State Highway 3 near Harrison, then north on State Highway 3 to Interstate 90, then east on Interstate 90 to Kingston, then north and east on Forest Service Road 9 to the Montana border, and then follow the Unit 4 boundary south and west to the point of beginning.
There is also a muzzleloader season on both the A and B tag in which antlerless elk may be harvested as well. This hunt also must take place within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4A, & 5 during December 2-8th.
For the next couple of years you can only harvest a cow within a mile of private land. We hope to remove this restriction as the elk population recovers, but this table should answer some questions on where you can hunt this season.
The area within the red line that is within a mile of private land is where you can harvest a cow elk in Unit 4 this year.
