A crash course on Montana's draw system for deer and elk general hunts

We talk about it all the time, but Montana continues to be a large point of confusion for many applicants every year. This generally simple system gets complicated with multiple draws and restrictions that can make planning a headache if you are not "in the know" and fully study all the information that you have in front of you as an Insider member.

Plus, the confusion surrounding Montana applications can lead to losing money if you aren’t careful!

The following is going to be a crash course on the ins and outs of the Montana draw system and how to best navigate it.

What is a Montana combination license?

The nonresident combination is the barrier of entry for all nonresidents wishing to hunt deer or elk in Montana. This is a general tag that allows you to hunt any Hunting Districts (HD) in the state that are deemed as general for the species for which you hold a tag. The combination license can be drawn in three different varieties.

You can find all these hunting opportunities quickly on GOHUNT's Filtering:

How does the draw work?

The combination licenses are drawn using a preference point. The preference points are not combination license specific and can be used on any of the three options. In a preference point system, tags are awarded to applicants with the highest points first. Montana uses a hybrid approach to this system and awards 75% of the total tags to the applicants with the highest points, while the remaining 25% are awarded randomly only to those with zero points.

The caveat of the 25% randomly drawn tags only going to those with zero points is where things start to get weird. Because of this rule, there is a large bubble created between applicants who have points but not enough to draw a tag and those with zero points. This creates a weird situation where the odds of drawing at 0 points are actually better than it is with 1 point. In fact, in the case of the big game and the elk combination license, your odds at 1 point is 0%! Check out your draw odds on GOHUNT through the link below:

How do points work in the drawing?

To add some additional layers to the draw system, the state also treats points somewhat differently than most traditional draw systems. Any points purchased at the time of application will be applied to that application. So, if you currently have zero points, you could purchase a point at the time of application and actually apply with 1 point. Keep in mind though, the odds at 1 point are low to nothing. Along with that, if you currently hold 1 point you can purchase and apply with 2.

How are points earned for combination licenses?

Points can be earned for the combination licenses in one of two ways. First, you can purchase a point when applying. Through this method, you will have additional costs associated with app fees, prerequisite licenses, and having to front the entire cost of the license you are applying for. If you are simply looking to build a point, this is an expensive option. The other option you have is to purchase a point during the points-only purchase period, which runs from July 1 to December 31 each year. Now, a rule that all applicants need to be aware of is that Montana will not allow you to participate in the drawing in April and then also purchase a point during the summer purchase period. This is important because it prevents applicants from applying with zero points for better drawing odds while also gaining a point for the year. The cost of a Preference Point in Montana is $100.

Point purging

And lastly, as icing on the cake, the state will also purge your accrued preference point each year. As an example, if you earn a point in 2024 but do not apply in 2025 the state will take the point from you.

If you want to see a better way to approach this with a little hidden gem of information, be sure to check out our 2024 Montana elk and deer application strategy articles.