State Information

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Montana snow water equivalent update as of March 1, 2021. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

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Montana snow water equivalent update as of February 26, 2020. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

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The Montana Draw System

Montana's Deer Breakdown

2019 was the most recent set of data. Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

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Managing Points and Expectations

Montana's 2021 whitetail Deer Breakdown

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

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Montana's 2021 deer Application Overview

The application deadline for Montana big game, elk and deer combination licenses along with deer and elk permits is April 1, 2021 by 11:45 p.m. MST. The application process is completely online here or in any Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (Montana FWP) office.

View important information and an overview of the Montana rules/regulations, the draw system and bonus points, SuperTags, tag and license fees and an interactive boundary line map on our State Profile. You can also view the Montana Deer Profile to access historical and statistical data to help you find trophy areas.

Applying for a state you've never hunted before can be daunting but we are here to make it easy. In the video above, Trail goes over some of the most commonly asked questions when applying in Montana.

Important Dates and Information

Cost to Apply

Predators in Montana

The predator populations in Montana are often the subject of spirited debates with strong feelings on both sides of the spectrums. Wolf packs continue to maintain healthy population levels and have firmly rooted themselves into most of the western portion of the state. Deer populations are down throughout the state compared to historic levels, but great hunting can still be found.

Source: Montana Field Guide

Grizzly populations continue to climb along with bear and hunter interactions. As of now, hunting seasons across the West are still on hold for grizzly bears. Much of western Montana is home to a roaming population of grizzlies and hunters need to be acutely aware and prepared when spending time in these locations.

Even with growing grizzly concerns, hunters can still find plenty of huntable areas where they won’t have to worry about grizzlies. When researching specific areas, a quick call to local biologists can be well warranted.

Current Weather/snowpack

2021

Montana snow water equivalent update as of March 1, 2021. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

Overall, this past winter in Montana has been fairly normal in terms of snowfall. A few late snowstorms have hit at this point, but snowfall has not been terribly significant and these should not have any lasting effects on fawn recruitment for this spring. Along with snowpack, we will also need to keep an eye on late spring/early summer rainfall as these will play heavily into antler growth, available feed and wildfires.

2020

Montana snow water equivalent update as of February 26, 2020. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

Before diving into the trending hunt districts for Montana deer in 2021, it is first important for hopeful applicants to fully understand the Montana draw system, which can, at times, be very complicated. For the main limited entry permit draws, Montana employs a random lottery that is weighted by bonus points. Additionally, bonus points are squared at every point level. This system heavily favors those with the most points; however, every applicant at every point level has a chance of drawing a tag every year. The bottom line: you’ll never draw if you never apply.

Montana Nonresident Big Game Combo Licenses Explained:

The prerequisite for all nonresidents in Montana will be the big game, elk or deer combination license.

The combination licenses essentially act as a general tag for Montana and must be drawn. Unlike limited entry permits, the combination licenses are distributed through a preference point system where 75% of the tags are reserved for the highest point holders. The remaining 25% of the tags are then put into a random draw with the remaining applicants who have not purchased any preference points.

Limited Entry Permits

Beyond the general tags and nonresident combinations, hunters can apply for limited entry permits. Successfully drawing a limited entry permit does not grant a second animal, but does augment the general tag to include new areas for hunters. These limited entry districts generally carry higher success rates and more mature animals, but this is not always the case. Montana FWP also uses some limited entry districts as population control tools where they offer unlimited permits in hopes that the area will see a higher harvest for the year. Out of all of the limited entry districts for deer and elk, less than half actually offer better odds at trophy animals than some of the better general hunts.

Nonresident Tag Allocation

Montana grants nonresidents up to 10% of a district’s tag quota; however, the 10% is not guaranteed. Some years, the nonresident applicant pool will fill the entire 10% cap and other years it can be significantly less.

Party Applications

In addition to individual applications, hunters can also apply for deer and elk permits as a party. The maximum party size is five. When processing a party permit, the state will consider the average number of points between all of the party members and then round to the nearest whole number for a final party permit total. For example, a party with an average of 2.33 points would enter the draw at two points while a party with 2.66 points would enter at three.

When used correctly, party applications can be very beneficial. Residents and nonresidents can apply jointly, but the party will be forced into the 10% pool for available permits.

Points Only Option

If applicants are simply looking to build points for the current year—both preference and bonus — they can skip the expensive application prerequisites. Bonus points can be purchased between July 1 and Sept. 30 for $15 per species for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Additionally, nonresidents can purchase combination license preference points during the same timeframe for $50. You cannot apply for a permit or combination license and purchase a separate point in the same year. Only one point per species can be accumulated per year.

Preference Point Tip

Montana offers applicants a unique opportunity to purchase preference points prior to the draw deadline for use in the current year application on nonresident combos. Essentially, if anyone is willing to front the extra $50, they can apply with at least one preference point every year.

The Difference between Montana's Bonus and Preference Points

Bonus points: Montana has a bonus point system in place for all special permits (deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, moose and mountain goat). Every year that you are unsuccessful in the drawing — and you participate in the bonus point system — you will be awarded a point. When you apply in the draw, your accrued points are squared to increase the odds exponentially for the applicants with more accrued points. All base bonus points accumulate over time until you draw a permit.

Preference points: Montana also has a preference point system for nonresident big game combination, elk combination and deer combination licenses. Preference points increase the chances of drawing a combination license and essentially move you ahead in line. 75% of all combination licenses awarded during the draw will be issued to hunters with preference points. Anyone applying with three preference points will draw the license before anyone with two and so on. Preference points accumulated will be used during the current drawing whether you purchase an additional preference point or not.

Montana mule deer have been the highlight of many conversations the past few years as some great bucks have been taken on general hunts, particularly along the eastern half of the state. Mule deer in the western half of the state tend to be spotty with some populations doing great while others are declining. Even with the drop in numbers in some areas, hunters can still find great opportunities in 2021 and, with careful planning and a lot of hard work, anyone has a chance.

Current Mule Deer Herd Condition

2019 was the most recent set of data. Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Winterkill rates have been fairly normal over the last few years; however, populations continue to drop in many areas in the western half of the state. Deer in the more open country found in the eastern half of the state have been doing great.

Trophy potential is not great in Montana; however, hunters do occasionally stumble into some large deer. In general, bucks exceeding the 160” Boone & Crockett (B&C) mark are among the top-tier deer for any given unit with the average bucks falling around 140” to 150”. Some of the units in the eastern portion of the state have been known for producing bucks over 180” and hunters will need to work extremely hard or secure private access for these. Some of the more prolific limited entry units have been routinely producing bucks well above the B&C minimum; however, hunters will face incredibly steep odds in securing a tag.

As stated, private lands throughout the state — particularly those in the east — will provide the best opportunity at trophy-class bucks. Fortunately, there is so much public land available in the state that hunters can really find good bucks anywhere with enough work and boot leather.

The Hunt Choices

General Season

The general season units are where the vast majority of hunters will find themselves year after year. The biggest bucks are routinely taken on limited entry hunts, but hunters can find some great hunting in the general areas. Trophy potentials will generally be lower; however, those who invest the time into research and hunting will find good repeatable success in a slew of units across the state.

General season hunts are available as over-the-counter (OTC) for residents but must be drawn by nonresidents through the deer combination or big game combination license. Different parts of the state will require different tactics and those who are flexible in their approach can find plenty of lightly pressured animals away from the crowds. With the wide array of terrain types offered in the states, hunters should have little trouble in putting together a hunt to meet all of their needs.

*Data is based on the 2019 season. As of Feb. 24, 2021, the 2020 harvest reports have not been published.

Due to Montana’s harvest data collection practices, it can be very difficult to find good usable data when researching hunts. One aspect I like to look at is the number of bucks harvested. A high number of bucks harvested can mean a large number of things; however, If I was primarily interested in taking any legal buck I know that this will provide a good starting spot. Additionally, I also like to compare these numbers with public land percentages as this will really start thinning out the list for me.

Many of the above listed units are found on the eastern half of the state and also include a much healthier distribution of private lands than those found to the West. However, it is important to keep in mind that the sheer size of most of these units can double or even triple other units in the state and there are still thousands of acres of public land to be hunted. Land ownership tends to be very checkerboarded in these areas and knowing the public/private boundaries will be pivotal.

The above list is also more geared towards a hunter who is purely heading to Montana to hunt deer. Keep in mind that if doing a combo hunt for elk that you may be looking into different areas. Units in Region 3 will generally provide the best option for combo hunts.

Block Management Areas (bma)

Along with the great public land options, hunters will also find cool opportunities to hunt private land through Montana’s Block Management Program. Under this program, private landowners enroll their parcels of land with Montana FWP to allow access for hunting in return for a monetary payment. This can be a great program for hunters to take advantage of and can certainly play into your application strategy in some areas. You can read more on this great program here.

Start scouting BMA areas in Montana now to plan for your upcoming 2021 hunts with our interactive 3D mapping platform!

Limited Entry

Like many other western states, the biggest bucks in Montana are often the product of a limited entry hunt. It is important to realize, though, that not all limited entry hunts will equate to better deer hunting. Some are used in areas where hunter numbers need to be controlled due to low deer numbers and others could be used where Montana FWP wants to reduce deer numbers.

In general, when targeting the largest bucks in the state, only a handful of units will truly offer hunters a unique hunting opportunity. This small selection of quality units forces long-time applicants into the same hunts year after year. Without a true preference point system for permits you are playing the odds game every year — no matter your point level.

All things considered, applying for permits is cheap if you are already planning on hunting with the general tag so throwing your name in the hat is a no-brainer.

HD 261 and 262: Both of these units are currently among the most popular for big bucks in the state right now. Bucks eclipsing the 190” mark have been common for the last several years with a decent handful approaching the 200” line. HD 261 is comprised of more public land than 262 but nearly all of the big deer will be killed on private lands. Beyond drawing the tag, the biggest hurdle in this hunt is simply gaining permission to hunt a piece of land that is holding a big buck. Hunters interested in trophy deer will enjoy this hunt; those who are also after the adventure will not.

HD 270: Still one of the most popular hunts in the state, HD 270 has long been known for producing some incredible deer. Trophy size has been down in the past few years, but hunters can still expect realistic shots at bucks above the 180” mark. The area is comprised of a healthy mixture of private and public lands with good bucks found on both. Anyone who draws this permit will be in for an incredible hunt. There is a new permit for HD 270 for this season that will limit hunters to bucks with 3 points or less. There is a large 3 point gene currently existing here, along with some giant 2 point bucks.

HD 291: HD 291 has been a somewhat undercover big buck unit for a number of years. Trophy potential is decent, but some incredible deer have been taken on private ranches in recent years. Hunters will find a small distribution of public lands although these areas do carry a lot of deer and some good bucks.

HD 300: This is an excellent unit to consider for those who still want a big adventure hunt. During periods of heavy snow, this unit will see a good migration of deer from the Idaho side of the border. Glassing opportunities are ample and, during the rut, this can be an incredible hunt. The average buck will land around 170”; however, with the right conditions, some staggering deer have been killed.

HD 324: This area typically gets overlooked by many deer hunters, but during the rut, this can be exceptional. Deep snows can push bucks out of surrounding units and areas of heavy cover, leaving hunters with great opportunities. A huge distribution of public lands gives hunters almost unbridled access to much of the prime deer habitat.

HD 401: This area can be hunted on a general tag; however, in order to hunt the rut, hunters will need to draw a permit. This area consists largely of private lands, but deer can grow to exceptional sizes. Hunters who secure private access will have the best odds for success and hunters who play property lines and move into small chunks of public can do extremely well.

HD 441: This unit is found along the famed Rocky Mountain Front. Hunters will find exceptional videos with good hunting opportunities. Public land distribution is fairly low in this area, but good bucks can be found. Additionally, those with the tag can hunt the 6,500 acre Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch.

HD 652: This small district is located along the eastern edge of Fort Peck Lake. Excellent deer habitat is found here along with good genetics. With the smaller size of this unit you will bump into other hunters; however, the deep coulees leading off the lake can provide a lot of security for mature bucks. Hunting the last few weeks of the season during the rut will provide the best opportunities for mature bucks.

HD 202: This unit is found in western Montana along the Idaho border. Some good deer can be taken within close proximity of roads, but this unit is largely rugged country and hunters will need to work hard for a mature buck. Locating bucks in the 150” to 160” range is doable with some hard work and the possibility of locating something over 180” is there for those willing to put in the time. This area has low deer densities although they tend to congregate during periods of heavy snow.

HD 210: This area has produced some exceptional bucks in recent years although a large chunk of these have come off of private lands. This unit has a good compromise of open sage country and timbered slopes and bucks can be found throughout both of these zones.

How to Find Hidden Gem Mule Deer Areas in Montana

With so many units available in Montana, the question of where to begin can be an intimidating area to start. With the wide array of terrain features available in the state, hunters can really choose a hunt that best fits their desires. Typically, those heading to the Treasure State specifically for deer will find far better opportunities in the eastern half of the state. However, hunters who are looking to make a combo hunt for deer and elk — particularly with the emphasis on elk — will find better options in the western half of the state. The most important factor to first consider will be your goals for the hunt.

Hunters shouldn’t expect a crazy high trophy potential in any unit in Montana — with the exception of some limited-entry permits — but, with some research, bucks in the 150”+ range are findable.

Use our Filtering tool to search historical data and find a hunt that is right for you. Utilize the trophy potential slider, public land filter and bucks harvested to really filter down the options. Keep in mind that the eastern half of the state consists of huge parcels of private lands. Some public land pieces in these areas can be completely landlocked and otherwise unavailable to hunters. Using land ownership maps can be a great way to find small access points into areas that other hunters may glaze over simply because access is difficult.

Preference Points

Preference points are utilized when drawing for Montana’s deer, elk or big game combo licenses.

I Have 0 to 1 Preference Points. What Can I Expect?

Applicants with zero preference points saw odds at around 65% for both the elk and big game combination license in 2020. Odds really don’t move much at one point, jumping only a few percentages; however, as applicant numbers continue to rise, the gap between these two point levels will continue to expand.

Find your nonresident deer combo draw odds here

Find your nonresident big game combo draw odds here

I Have 2+ Preference Point. What Can I Expect?

Applicants at the two-point level saw 100% odds for drawing in 2020. Things should stay the same during the 2021 draw period, but anything is possible and we will be monitoring this one closely.

Find your nonresident deer combo draw odds with 1 point here

Find your nonresident big game combo draw odds with 1 point here

Permit Deer Tags

Montana is a state that is managed for opportunity and, because of this, does not have the number of top quality districts found in surrounding states. Good hunt districts are available across the state with five to six points or under, but the top-tier districts will require maximum points and, even then, the odds will rarely eclipse 5% — even for residents.

Find your draw odds

Bonus Points

Montana is a state that is managed for opportunity and, because of this, does not have the number of top quality districts found in surrounding states. Good hunt districts are available across the state with five to six points or under, but the top-tier districts will require maximum points and, even then, the odds will rarely eclipse 5% — even for residents.

I Have 0 Deer Bonus Points. What Can I Expect?

Before beginning your application strategy, it will be important to first decide your end goal for Montana. Mainly, do you plan on hunting Montana on general tags or are you only interested in building points to use later? As a nonresident, applicants will need to apply for their combo license in addition to any extra permits. If you are unsuccessful in the draw, you are only granted an 80% refund of your total application cost if you are not interested in hunting the general districts. If you wish to hunt other states, you can simply purchase the preference point and bonus point and move on. If you do plan on hunting the general season regardless, then put in for your district of choice. Because it’s a lottery system, there is always a chance of drawing!

There are a few unlimited districts that could be worth considering at this point, but, at zero points, hunters will generally find their best opportunities on the general units. In general, if you have a desired top-tier district you’d like to hunt, then your best bet is to throw your name in the hat.

Find your resident deer permit draw odds with 0 points here

Find your nonresident deer permit draw odds with 0 points here

What Can I Do with 3 or 8 Deer Bonus Points?

Hunters in this point range do have a few more options although these will still be highly limited. Nonresidents will now see a few more districts available with 100% odds, which can be an attractive use of points. These will primarily consist of units where the trophy potentials will be slightly higher than what can be found in the general units.

At this point level, both resident and nonresident applicants are within striking distance of HD 202 although odds for some of the other remaining tags will still be under 10%. This can be a good use of points, but hunters should be aware that this will be a very physical hunt.

Find your resident deer permit draw odds with 6 points here

Find your nonresident deer permit draw odds with 6 points here

What Can I Expect with 10 or More Deer Bonus Points?

At this point level, residents and nonresidents are nearing the maximum point capacity. Applying for anything other than the top-tier districts will merely result in burning points on hunting districts that could be drawn on far less. Odds will still be steep, but your odds simply won’t improve beyond this point with Montana’s drawing system.

Applicants at this point level will generally be gunning for HD 261 and 270. For a slightly better chance, HD 291, 300 and 324 can also provide good opportunities for mature bucks, albeit slightly smaller in size.

Find your resident deer permit draw odds with 10 points here

Find your nonresident deer permit draw odds with 10 points here

Throughout the state, whitetail populations are still doing great and quality bucks are being taken in each region. The western half of the state still produces the most bucks harvested, but some of the central and eastern portions of the state have been kicking out some giant bucks recently.

Current Whitetail Deer Herd Condition

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Whitetail populations in Montana continue to do great despite some recent outbreaks of chronic wasting disease. With fairly normal snowfall for the current year, it is looking like 2021 will be a great season for whitetail hunters.

Trophy potential for most of the state is good with the opportunities for bucks over 140” B&C being found in most units. Most hunters will generally harvest bucks around the 120” mark, but those specifically targeting larger deer have been killing some giants in recent years.

Private lands will generally provide the best opportunity for mature bucks; however, with the sheer amount of public lands in the state, the opportunity can be had anywhere.

How to Find Hidden Gem Whitetail Deer Units in Montana

With so many units available in Montana, the question of where to begin can be an intimidating area to start. With the wide array of terrain features available in the state, hunters can really choose a hunt that best fits their desires. Great hunting for whitetail can be found statewide with the best opportunities found on private lands. Hunters who are looking to make a combo hunt for deer and elk — particularly with the emphasis on elk — will find better options in the western half of the state. The most important factor to first consider will be your goals for the hunt.

Use our Filtering tool to search historical data and find a hunt that is right for you. Utilize the trophy potential slider, public land filter and bucks harvested to really filter down the options. Keep in mind that the eastern half of the state is comprised of huge parcels of private lands. Some public land pieces in these areas can be completely landlocked and otherwise unavailable to hunters. Using land ownership maps can be a great way to find small access points into areas that other hunters may glaze over simply because access is difficult.

The Hunt Choices

General Season

The general units make up 98% of the opportunity in the state for whitetail deer. There really are only three options for whitetail buck permits in the state and these will usually not provide much more for opportunity than what can be found in the general units.

General season hunts are available as OTC for residents but must be drawn by nonresidents through the deer combination or big game combination license. Different parts of the state will require different tactics and those who are flexible in their approach can find plenty of lightly pressured animals away from the crowds. With the wide array of terrain types offered in the state, hunters should have little trouble in putting together a hunt to meet all of their needs.

*Data is based on the 2019 season. As of Feb. 24, 2021, the 2020 harvest reports have not been published.

As you can see from the above list, good units can be found across most of the state. Great whitetail hunting can really be found anywhere — particularly with some private access options into agricultural areas. The above list is also more geared towards a hunter who is purely heading to Montana to hunt deer. Keep in mind that if doing a combo hunt for elk you may be looking into different areas. Units in Region 3 will generally provide the best option for combo hunts.

Limited Entry

As stated earlier, there are only three options for whitetail buck permits in Montana. Two of these are archery only and are actually considered B licenses (HD 260 AND HD 290), meaning they act as a second deer tag. Successfully drawing one of these would allow hunters to harvest two bucks in a calendar year!

Managing Points and Expectations

Preference Points

Preference points are utilized when drawing for Montana’s deer, elk or big game combo licenses.

I Have 0 to 1 Preference Points. What Can I Expect?

Applicants with zero preference points saw odds at around 65% for both the elk and big game combination license in 2020. Odds really don’t move much at one point, jumping only a few percentages, but as applicant numbers continue to rise, the gap between these two point levels will continue to expand.

Find your nonresident deer combo draw odds here with 0 points

Find your nonresident big game combo draw odds here with 0 points

I Have 2+ Preference Point. What Can I Expect?

Applicants at the two-point level saw 100% odds for drawing in 2020. Things should stay the same during the 2021 draw period, but anything is possible and we will be monitoring this one closely.

Find your nonresident deer combo draw odds here with 1 points

Find your nonresident big game combo draw odds here with 1 point

Permit Tags

I Have Deer Points and I'd like to Burn Them on Whitetail Hunts. What Can I Expect?

Really, there isn’t much of a strategy when it comes to points for whitetail in Montana. The three hunt districts (HD 260, 290 and 455) available to draw boast great statistics, but still offer little more than some of the better general districts. Since Montana does not differentiate points between whitetail and mule deer permits you would be better off to build your points towards a premium mule deer permit.

Find your resident whitetail deer permit draw odds here

Find your nonresident whitetail deer permit draw odds here