Montana

The Big Sky Country of Montana is full of big game hunting opportunities. In addition to applying for the sought-after special permits for the big four species (sheep, moose, goat, and bison), the general licenses are available to allow hunters to pursue deer, elk, and antelope on an annual basis. Montana is truly the land of opportunity with almost a full eleven weeks of hunting on general licenses. The bull elk in Montana grow impressive racks in parts of the state and provides a great rut hunting opportunity if you can pull a permit in one of the difficult-to-draw areas. Although a few big mule deer are harvested in a select few areas, the overall condition of the mule deer herd is struggling from winter loss and questionable management. With proper management, the mule deer should rebound and start to produce quality bucks again.

Montana is not known for its high numbers of trophy deer, but what it lacks in trophy potential, it makes up for in opportunity. Montana has grown its fair share of trophy-class whitetail bucks. Qualitybucks come from both the timbered part of the state as well as the rolling country on the east side. Antelope provide a regular opportunity for the archery hunter to harvest respectable bucks. Montana truly shines when it comes to bighorn sheep, mountain goats, Shiras moose, and bison. Although the permits are a challenge to draw, it is worth the wait.

License Costs

Species Costs

Important Dates

Big Game Draw (Deer and Elk)

Big Game Draw (Antelope)

Big Game Draw (Sheep, Moose, Bison, and Mtn Goat)

Big Game Draw (Antlerless)

Draw Result Dates

Points Only Purchase Period

Montana offers the opportunity for hopeful applicants to purchase points only outside of the draw applications. With this, hunters will not need to pay any prerequisite license fees and can simply purchase the point. As a caveat, anyone who participated in a drawing during the same calendar year can not also participate in the points purchase period for each species applied for.

Draw System

Tag Lottery

Montana allows for three choices on the application. Every applicant's first choice is considered before any second or third choice is considered. All sheep, moose, and mountain goat hunt choices, and the highly desired hunt choices for deer, elk, and antelope are filled before any second choices are considered.

If applying for a permit, your first choice is required, second and third choices are optional. If you have only one choice do not repeat the choice as a second and third option.

All nonresident applicants must first apply for a big game, elk combination, or deer combination license in the general draw before they can apply for the Special, limited-entry deer and elk permits.

Unlocking Montana's System

Nonresidents must choose between Big Game Combination, Elk Combination, or Deer Combination licenses

Big Game Combination: Includes your General Elk, General Deer, Upland Game Bird, Fishing, Conservation, and Base Hunting licenses. A total of 17,000 are available.

Elk Combination: Includes your General Elk, Upland Game Bird, Fishing, Conservation and Base Hunting licenses. The available licenses are included in the 17,000 noted above.

Deer Combination: Includes your General Deer, Upland Game Bird, Fishing, Conservation, and BaseHunting licenses. A total of 4,600 are available.

They are drawn in the following order.

First: Choose the nonresident combination license of your choice.

Second: Select whether you need a deer or elk permit.

Third: Select the hunting permit of your choice. Montana has a normal draw system, your first choice is awarded before everyone's second choice. What this means is if you are looking to draw a tag, select that as your first choice. Your first choice is required. Second and third choices are optional. Second or third permit choices will only be considered if there are remaining tags or if the quota is unlimited. If you draw a second or third choice, you will not lose your bonus points. Note: do not repeat the same hunt code for first and third choices.

Fourth: After applying for Big Game Combination License or Elk Combination License, you must choose the following options if you are not awarded an elk permit in the drawing:

Fifth: Make sure you pick the correct 5-digit elk and/or deer permit code for the hunting district. Pay special attention to the two digits at the end. These will correspond to archery or general rifle seasons. Failure to list all five digits will result in your application being revoked.

Preference or bonus points

Bonus points

Montana has a bonus point system in place for all special permits (deer, elk, antelope, sheep, moose, and mountain goat). Bonus points can be purchased at the time of your application to be applied to the current year's application. As an example, if I have 4 bonus points at the moment and elect to pay for a point when applying I will enter with 5.

When you apply in the draw your accrued points are squared to increase the odds exponentially for the applicants with more accrued points. For example, if you have four base bonus points those will be squared and you will then have 16 bonus points going into the drawing. All base bonus points accumulate over time until you draw a permit.

Individuals who missed the deadline to apply or did not apply for bonus points at the time of application may purchase bonus points from July 1 to September 30. Note: you can still purchase nonresident preference points for the general combination tags from July 1 through December 31.

Preference points

Montana also has a Preference point system for 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% percent of all combination licenses awarded during the drawing will be issued to hunters with preference points. Anyone applying with four preference points will draw the license before anyone with three, and soon. Preference points accumulated will be used during the current drawing whether you purchase an additional preference point or not. Applicants have to apply every year or their accrued preference points will be purged.

In 2022, MTFWP established a new rule that allows applicants hunting with an outfitter to purchase up to 2 preference points when applying. These points can be purchased for $100 each. Licenses issued using this point perk are only valid for hunting with an outfitter.

Nonresident Allocation

Application choices

Montana will only look at an applicant's first choice initially during the drawing process. Once all first-choice applications have been gone through the state will begin placing hunters based on their second or third choices if tags are remaining for their hunt choices. Drawing a second or third-choice tag does not affect your points.

Party applications

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.

Withdrawing applications

An application may be withdrawn using an online withdrawal form that can be printed off and mailed in. You are entitled to a refund of your license, but not your application and convenience fees.

Waiting Period

Surplus and alternates list

Licenses and permits may be made available for purchase after the drawing if the department receives fewer applications than the number of licenses available for the department to issue. These licenses are called surplus licenses. Licenses and permits designated as the first and only choice in the drawing will not go to surplus. To purchase a surplus license, you must first sign up for the Surplus License through the MyFWP portal. Once the sign-up period is closed, the list will be randomized and hunters at the top of the list will be contacted via email with instructions to finalize their purchase. Nonresident hunters also have the option of signing up for the Combination license alternates list. To sign up for. You must first sign up for the Alternates list through the MyFWP portal. Once the sign-up period is closed, the list will be randomized and hunters at the top of the list will be contacted via email with instructions to finalize their purchase.

Credit cards

Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Credit cards will be charged a convenience fee of $1.25 plus approximately 2.5% of the total will be added to the fees.

Hunting license

Montana has a general hunting license which is a prerequisite to purchasing any hunting licenses.

Getting a Tag

Over-the-counter tags

Archery Stamp

Before archery hunting during any archery-only seasons, or before applying for any archery-only permits hunters must first purchase a Bow and Arrow stamp that is available OTC.

Landowner tags

Landowner and landowner sponsor license

Another great opportunity Montana offers is the availability of landowner tags and landowner-sponsored tags. With landowner tags, 15% of the permits for a district will be set aside specifically for landowners, resident or nonresident, that meet specific requirements. For deer, landowners must own, or be contracted to purchase, 160 acres that are primarily used for agriculture or 640 acres if applying for elk. Landowners who are not successful in drawing one of the 15% allocated tags will then be thrown into the regular pool. Landowners who own at least 640 acres are also able to sponsor up to two nonresident hunters who possess the deer combination license. 2,000 tags are set aside for the sponsor program, which is a guaranteed draw, but the hunter may only hunt on the sponsored private land.

Nonresident Come Home to Hunt Program

The Come Home to Hunt program is a fairly new concept for Montana and allows for 500 big game combo and 500 deer combo tags to be set aside for those participating in the program. To be eligible, the applicant must have either completed hunter's education in the state of Montana or must have possessed a Montana hunting license in the past and be sponsored by a current Montana resident family member. Qualifying nonresidents needed to apply for either a deer or big game combination license by March 15. To actually hunt in Montana, the nonresident awarded a Come Home to Hunt license must hunt with a properly licensed adult family member.

Youth tags

Apprentice Hunter

This new opportunity allows youth 10 to 17 years of age to obtain a certificate to hunt without completion of a Hunter Education course. The apprentice hunter must be accompanied by a mentor at least 21 years of age and follow the apprentice hunter's rules. Apprentice hunters cannot apply for limited permits or license drawings.

Returning tags/transferring tags

All online license purchases and applications are final and cannot be changed or withdrawn. Once you draw your tag you can request an 80% refund on the tag by August 1 or a 50% refund before the start of the general season. Applicants who return a tag drawn through the use of preference or bonus points will not have their points reinstated.

Block Management Program

What Is Montana's Block Management Program?

A cooperative program between private landowners and FWP, Block Management helps landowners manage hunting activities and provides the public with free hunting access to private land, and sometimes to adjacent or isolated public lands. Block Management addresses fall hunting only (spring bear and turkey hunting access are typically not included in the program).

Landowner participation in block management is voluntary. Contracts are negotiated annually in the spring and summer. After enrollment is complete, FWP publishes a Hunter Access Guide, which lists all block management opportunities available to you for the current season. These regional guides are made available on August 15, annually. You can see more information here.

SuperTag

The SuperTag is a unique opportunity offered by Montana. Essentially, it is a lottery drawing for eight different species (moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, antelope, elk, deer, bison, and mountain lion) that can be used in any hunting district of the state regardless of it being a general or limited entry area. Only one tag per species is drawn each year. These are very similar to Governor's Tags, which are found throughout the West, but are much, much cheaper. Hunters can purchase as many “lottery tickets” in the SuperTag drawing as they wish for $5 each. These are nonrefundable and must be purchased by July 2, 2018. If hunters draw a Super Tag in the same year that they have drawn the permit, then they must forfeit the permit back to MFWP who will then issue a full refund and reinstate any bonus points the individual possessed prior to the drawing.

Hunting Rules

Minimum age to hunt

Must be 12 years old by Jan 16 of the license year

Hunters education

Required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1985

Bowhunters education

To purchase a Montana bow-and-arrow license, a hunter must complete a certified bowhunter education course or show any prior year's bowhunting license from any state or province.

Hunters orange

Montana law requires that all big game hunters and those accompanying them (including guide/outfitter) must wear at least 400 square inches of Hunter Orange above the waist. A hat or cap alone is not sufficient.

Weapon restrictions

Archery: Hunters may not use crossbows during the archery seasons. Bows may have no more than 80%let-off. Arrows must be at least 24 inches long and weigh 300 grains at a minimum. Broadheads must weigh 70 grains or more. No electronic devices may be attached to a bow

Muzzleloader: Sabots are not permitted. Muzzleloaders must be ignited by percussion, flintlock, wheel lock, or matchlock mechanism. Black powder, Pyrodex, or an equivalent is legal

Rifle: Only centerfire rifles are legal

Montana allows the use of archery during the general rifle season. This is a great time to bowhunt for rutting mule deer or bowhunt for late-season elk.

Montana also has “Weapon Restriction Areas” that allow the use of a muzzleloader, traditional handgun, shotgun, archery, or crossbow during the archery-only season. So you might be able to use a firearm to harvest an animal during the early season. See the 2016 Montana regulations for more details.

Note: There are no archery-specific mule deer permits in the state of Montana. Drawing a coveted mule deer permit allows you to hunt the entire archery season, and then pick up a rifle during the general season.

Hunting opportunities for military members

Residency

Any military members and their family members who are currently stationed and on active duty in Montana may purchase tags and licenses as a resident after residing in the state for a period of 30 days.

Discounted license opportunities

Montana residents who are members of the National Guard, Federal Reserve, or active duty who participated in a contingency operation outside of the state for two months after September 11, 2001, and have been released from activity or discharged are eligible for a free conservation license or a sportsman without bear license for a fee of $2.The only stipulation to this clause is that the program is only available if you receive the license in the year you return from military service or the year after.

Half price licenses

Veterans with certain combat-related disabilities may be eligible for half-priced licenses for deer and antelope. Montana sets aside up to 50 licenses annually for this. Any interested persons must contact the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks License Bureau at (406) 444-2663.

Disabled veteran or active duty license donation

Anyone—resident or nonresident—can purchase or draw a hunting license, tag or permit and donate them to a disabled veteran or disabled active duty service member. The donator cannot choose the individual or organization the donation will go to. Participating veterans and service members must be a Purple Heart recipient and have a disability rating of 70% or greater.