Montana Draw Odds

Montana runs two different draws. Limited-entry elk and deer permits, Elk B / Deer B licenses and all antelope licenses are drawn with a squared bonus-point system: every application gets one chance plus your accumulated bonus points squared, first choice only, and nonresidents are capped at 10% of each district's quota after a 15% landowner-preference stage.

Before a nonresident can hunt deer or elk at all they must draw a General Combination license (Big Game/Elk combo, 17,000 cap; Deer combo, 4,600 unreserved) in a separate preference-point draw where 75% go to the highest point holders and 25% to zero-point applicants at random. The full combination license fee ($1,312 Big Game, $1,112 Elk, $760 Deer in 2026) is paid when you apply and refunded if you are unsuccessful; applications open March 1 and close April 1 for combinations and deer/elk permits, June 1 for B licenses and antelope, May 1 for moose, sheep, goat and bison.

Moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and the limited mountain lion licence are drawn on the same squared bonus-point system, with a seven-year wait after a successful draw for moose, sheep and goat; bison and the special turkey licence are drawn purely at random.

Sources: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks documents, last verified August 31, 2026. · 248 sources

Odds by Species

The Rules, Side by Side

Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.

Deer

Nonresident

System
Bonus² 12
Choices
3
Lower Choice Burns Points
No
Point-Only
Yes
Points Expire
No
Party Averages
Yes
NR Share
10% · 4,600 tags 14

Nonresident · combination license

System
Pref + random 10
Choices
1
Lower Choice Burns Points
—
Point-Only
Yes
Points Expire
Yes
Party Averages
Yes
NR Share
10% · 4,600 tags 14

Resident

System
Bonus² 12
Choices
3
Lower Choice Burns Points
No
Point-Only
Yes
Points Expire
No
Party Averages
Yes
NR Share
—

Elk

Nonresident

System
Bonus² 12
Choices
3
Lower Choice Burns Points
No
Point-Only
Yes
Points Expire
No
Party Averages
Yes
NR Share
10% · 17,000 tags 14

Nonresident · combination and combination landowner licenses

System
Pref + random 10
Choices
1
Lower Choice Burns Points
No
Point-Only
Yes
Points Expire
Yes
Party Averages
Yes
NR Share
10% · 17,000 tags 14

Resident

System
Bonus² 12
Choices
3
Lower Choice Burns Points
No
Point-Only
Yes
Points Expire
No
Party Averages
Yes
NR Share
—
Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat
Rule Everyone
System Bonus² 17
Choices 2
Lower Choice Burns Points No
Point-Only Yes
Points Expire No
Party Averages Yes
NR Share 10% 20
Pronghorn
Rule Nonres.Resident
System Bonus² 12Bonus² 12
Choices 33
Lower Choice Burns Points NoNo
Point-Only YesYes
Points Expire NoNo
Party Averages YesYes
NR Share 10% 14—
Mountain Lion
Rule Everyone
System Bonus² 2
Choices —
Lower Choice Burns Points No
Point-Only Yes
Points Expire No
Party Averages —
NR Share 10% 2
Bison
Rule Everyone
System Random 4
Choices 2
Lower Choice Burns Points —
Point-Only —
Points Expire —
Party Averages —
NR Share —
Turkey
Rule Everyone
System Random 1
Choices —
Lower Choice Burns Points —
Point-Only —
Points Expire —
Party Averages —
NR Share —

NR Share

Elk
10% A ceiling rather than a set-aside: nonresidents can take up to a tenth of each licence or permit type's drawing quota, and more if every resident applicant is drawn. 17,000 tags The statutory cap on nonresident big game combination licences, which covers the Big Game and Elk combinations together.
Deer
10% The same per-quota ceiling as elk; resident landowners of 160 acres or more are drawn first for up to 15% of a district's quota. 4,600 tags The statutory cap on unreserved nonresident deer combination licences, with a further 2,000 held for landowner-sponsored applicants.
Pronghorn
10% The same per-quota ceiling as elk, again behind a 15% landowner preference.
Moose
10% Limited to, but not guaranteed, a tenth of a region's quota, and only in the districts the regulations mark with an asterisk.
Bighorn sheep
10% Worked out on a whole region's quota rather than one district, as with moose; unlimited sheep districts have no quota and no cap.
Mountain goat
10% Worked out on a whole region's quota rather than one district, as with moose.
Mountain lion
10% A tenth of the limited mountain lion licences offered, not of each unit's harvest quota.

Points Expire

Deer and elk
Deleted if you do not apply for a combination licence in consecutive years (MCA 87-2-115); FWP does not say whether a point-only purchase counts as applying.
How These Draws Work, With an Example

Hybrid: preference + random: Say a hunt has 100 nonresident tags. 75 go to the applicants with the most preference points; if the last point level that draws has more applicants than tags left, that level is split at random. The other 25 are drawn at random from the applicants holding no points at all.

Bonus points (squared): Every applicant gets points² + 1 entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances, but never a guarantee.

Random draw: Every applicant has the same chance: tags divided by applicants. No points count in this draw.

Buying Points

You can buy a point in Montana without applying for a tag. How you buy one depends on the species; the table below gives each.

Points are on sale Jul 1 – Dec 31 for deer and elk combination licenses. Open now, closes Dec 31. Points are on sale Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2027 for deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, lion, bighorn, and goat. Closed, reopens Jul 1, 2027 (expected).

Species Resident Nonresident
Deer Separate Window · never lapses $15 $25
Deer · Combination License Separate Window · can lapse 1 — $100
Elk Separate Window · never lapses $15 $25
Elk · Combination License Separate Window · can lapse 1 — $100
Moose Separate Window · never lapses $75 $75
Pronghorn Separate Window · never lapses $15 $25
Lion Separate Window · never lapses $25 $25
Bighorn Separate Window · never lapses $75 $75
Goat Separate Window · never lapses $75 $75
  1. 1.Deleted if you do not apply for a combination licence in consecutive years (MCA 87-2-115); FWP does not say whether a point-only purchase counts as applying.

Source: Preference point — fwp.mt.gov

Fees

2026 Fee Nonres. Resident
Every Applicant
Base hunting license (annual, assessed with first hunting license or application) 11 To apply $50 $10
Application fee per species (deer, elk, antelope and mountain lion drawings) 9 To apply $5 $5
Conservation license (prerequisite for all licenses) 7 To apply $10 $8
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (16 and older) 8 To apply Bought separately from the combination license. $7.50 —
Bonus point bought with an application (per species; required for accumulated points to count) 9 With the application $20 $2
Preference point for nonresident combination licenses (one per year; second point $100 with outfitter affidavit; July 1 - Dec 31 if not applying) 10 With the application $100 —
Bonus point only (no application) (July 1 - Sept 30, per species) 12 Point-only purchase $25 $15
Bow and arrow license (Class A-2; required for archery-only seasons/districts) 19 If drawn $10 $10
Deer
General Deer Combination license (Class B-11: deer tag + fishing + upland bird); alternative to the Big Game Combination 15 To apply A nonresident must hold or apply for a deer combination license to use a deer permit. $760 —
General Deer License (prerequisite: 'Residents must have current year General deer license to apply' for a deer permit; not needed for a Deer B licence) 3 To apply — $16
Deer B license (antlerless deer) 3,8 If drawn $75 $10
Elk
General Big Game Combination license (Class B-10: deer + elk tags + fishing + upland bird) - replaces the separate Elk and Deer Combination rows for a hunter who applies for both species 13 To apply $1,312 —
General Elk Combination license (elk tag + fishing + upland bird); alternative to the Big Game Combination 8 To apply A nonresident must hold or apply for an elk combination license to use an elk permit. $1,112 —
General Elk License (prerequisite: 'Residents must have current year General Elk License to apply' for an elk permit; not needed for an Elk B licence) 3 To apply — $20
Elk B license (antlerless elk) 3,8 If drawn $270 $20
Special elk permit (statutory fee, MCA 87-2-704(4); used with a valid elk license) 18 If drawn $4 $4
Moose
Application fee, Moose (nonrefundable, per species) 9 To apply $50 $10
Bonus point bought with a Moose application (per species; required for accumulated points to count) 9 With the application $20 —
Bonus point only (no application), Moose (July 1 - Sept 30) 12 Point-only purchase $75 —
Moose license (drawing; bought on or before Aug. 1 if drawn) 4 If drawn $1,250 $125
Pronghorn
Antelope license (either-sex, special drawing) 16 To apply $200 —
Antelope or Antelope B license (special drawing; the chart's '$19.00' is this $14 plus the $5 application fee) 16 To apply — $14
Antelope B license (doe/fawn) 8 If drawn $200 —
Lion
Mountain Lion License (Limited Mountain Lion License drawing; the same licence is the OTC / Unlimited licence) 5 If drawn $320 $19
Bighorn
Application fee, Bighorn Sheep (nonrefundable, per species) 9 To apply $50 $10
Bonus point bought with a Bighorn Sheep application (per species; required for accumulated points to count) 9 With the application $20 —
Bonus point only (no application), Bighorn Sheep (July 1 - Sept 30) 12 Point-only purchase $75 —
Bighorn Sheep license (drawing; bought on or before Aug. 1 if drawn) 4 If drawn $1,250 $125
Goat
Application fee, Mountain Goat (nonrefundable, per species) 9 To apply $50 $10
Bonus point bought with a Mountain Goat application (per species; required for accumulated points to count) 9 With the application $20 —
Bonus point only (no application), Mountain Goat (July 1 - Sept 30) 12 Point-only purchase $75 —
Mountain Goat license (drawing; bought on or before Aug. 1 if drawn) 4 If drawn $1,250 $125
Bison
Application fee, Bison (nonrefundable, per species) 9 To apply $50 $10
Bonus point bought with a Bison application (per species; required for accumulated points to count) 9 With the application $20 —
Bonus point only (no application), Bison (July 1 - Sept 30) 12 Point-only purchase $75 —
Bison license (drawing; bought on or before Aug. 1 if drawn) 4 If drawn $1,250 $125
Cash to Apply, One Species $262.50–$2,616.50 $35–$45

Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.

Next Application Deadlines

Unless a row says otherwise, tag fees are charged only if you draw.

  1. Deer · nonresidents only — Combination 6

    results about Apr 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2026.) You pay the full tag fee when you apply. Deer permits and the nonresident deer combination license close at 11:45 p.m. Mountain time; the combination fee is refunded if you miss. Deer B licenses close June 1. The fee is paid when you apply and refunded if you miss. A preference point can be bought without applying July 1 – December 31.

    Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2027 166 days expected
  2. Deer and elk · residents only 6

    results about Apr 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2026.)

    Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2027 166 days expected
  3. Elk · nonresidents only — Combination 6

    results about Apr 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2026.) You pay the full tag fee when you apply. Elk permits and the nonresident elk and Big Game combination licenses close at 11:45 p.m. Mountain time. The full combination license fee is charged when you apply and refunded near the end of April if you miss. Elk B licenses close June 1. The full license fee is paid when you apply and refunded if you miss. A preference point can be bought without applying July 1 – December 31.

    Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2027 166 days expected
  4. Moose 6

    results about May 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – May 1, 2026.) Moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison share one deadline; the drawing is in mid-May.

    Mar 1 – May 1, 2027 196 days expected
  5. Bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and bison 4,6

    results about May 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – May 1, 2026.)

    Mar 1 – May 1, 2027 196 days expected
  6. Deer and elk — B license 6

    results about Jun 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – Jun 1, 2026.) Open to residents and nonresidents. Applications close at 11:45 p.m. Mountain time; the drawing is in mid-June.

    Mar 1 – Jun 1, 2027 227 days expected
  7. Pronghorn 6

    results about Aug 5 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Mar 1 – Jun 1, 2026.) Antelope and Antelope B licenses. Applications close at 11:45 p.m. Mountain time; the drawing is in early August.

    Mar 1 – Jun 1, 2027 227 days expected
  8. Mountain lion 6

    results about Aug 15 · points only Jul 1 – Sep 30

    (Last cycle ran Jun 30 – Jul 22, 2026.) Limited mountain lion licenses. Applications close at 11:45 p.m. Mountain time; the drawing is in mid-August.

    Jun 30 – Jul 22, 2027 278 days expected

Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.

Legal cartridges in Montana by species and weapon

Sources (248)

Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines

  1. 1. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · 2021 Montana Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations
  2. 2. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · 2025 Montana Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations
  3. 3. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · 2026 Montana Deer, Elk, Antelope Hunting Regulations
  4. 4. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · 2026 Montana Moose, Sheep, Goat (and Bison) Hunting Regulations
  5. 5. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · 2026 Montana Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations
  6. 6. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · Applications, Drawings, and Bonus Points (2026 application dates)
  7. 7. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · Hunting Requirements (conservation license, base hunting license, bow license) · 2026
  8. 8. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · Nonresident License Fees (2026)
  9. 9. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-113 Application fees · 2026
  10. 10. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-115 Nonresident elk and deer license preference point system · 2026
  11. 11. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-116 Base hunting license prerequisite for other hunting licenses — fee · 2026
  12. 12. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-117 License bonus point system · 2026
  13. 13. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-505 Class B-10 — nonresident big game combination license · 2026
  14. 14. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-506 Restrictions on hunting licenses · 2026
  15. 15. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-510 Class B-11 — nonresident deer combination license · 2026
  16. 16. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-701 Special licenses (fees) · 2026
  17. 17. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-702 Restrictions on special licenses · 2026
  18. 18. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-704 Regulation of special elk permits · 2026
  19. 19. Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025, mca.legmt.gov) · MCA 87-2-708 Class A-2 — special bow and arrow license · 2026
  20. 20. Montana Secretary of State (Administrative Rules of Montana) · ARM 12.3.116 Moose, sheep, goat licenses (pre-2022 numbering) · 2021

Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2006–2026

2026 · 12 documents
2025 · 15 documents
2024 · 14 documents
2023 · 15 documents
2022 · 15 documents
2021 · 15 documents
2020 · 14 documents
2019 · 13 documents
2018 · 13 documents
2017 · 9 documents
2016 · 9 documents
2015 · 9 documents
2014 · 8 documents
2013 · 9 documents
2012 · 9 documents
2011 · 9 documents
2010 · 9 documents
2009 · 8 documents
2008 · 8 documents
2007 · 7 documents
2006 · 8 documents
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Every report is checked against the agency source before we change anything.

About These Numbers

Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.