New for 2016

State Information

Wyatt O'day with his 2015 Montana wolf. Read the full story here.

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Graphic provided by Montana State Fieldguide

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The Draw System

The Points System

Montana's Deer Breakdown

Robby Farnes' giant 192" P&Y Official archery mule deer taken in 2015.

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How to Uncover Hidden Gem Deer Hunting Districts

Jake Ingram with his 2015 Montana mule deer. Jake is the owner of Scapegoat Wilderness Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member

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Kirk Russell with his 2015 Montana general season mule deer.

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Montana's Whitetail Deer Breakdown

Matt Hagel's 2015 Montana whitetail buck.

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Montana Deer Bonus Points

Youth hunter with a massive Montana mule deer taken with Northern Rockies Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member

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Montana Elk Breakdown

Dave Barnett's 2015 Montana archery bull elk.

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Maddy with a great Montana bull elk taken with Northern Rockies Outfitters — A goHUNT Business Member

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Montana Elk Bonus Points

Montana's Deer and Elk Application Overview

With ample amounts of public land, generous seasons and easy to obtain tags, Montana can be a great state for anyone looking to cut their teeth on western hunting. While nonresident tag costs are some of the highest in the west, prospective hunters can enjoy a nearly 100% guarantee on drawing their general tags with a large portion of these available as surplus every year and becoming available over-the-counter (OTC). This is a great state to look at as an option “B” if plans fall through with other states. While there are many permit-only areas that produce some of the state's biggest animals, a lot of great hunting can still be found on general OTC hunting districts which will provide many options. Archery hunters will enjoy a six week season and rifle hunters will see a five week season that includes the mule deer rut. With over 30 million acres of accessible public land, 15 designated wilderness areas and 7 million acres of private land, Montana’s Block Management Area (BMA) adventure is a fun option for hunters of any background.

Note: The application for Montana deer and elk permits is March 15 and the application can be completed through the mail or online.

Why Montana for Deer and Elk

Generous Seasons

Allows the hunting of elk and mule deer during the rut on a general tag.

Easy to Draw General Tags

The general drawing for the nonresident tags has been 100% guaranteed the past few years and most years will see these tags go to surplus and become available OTC.

Great Access to Public Land

Montana is a great state to look at for hunters interested in hunting public lands.

Great Opportunities in OTC Hunting Districts

While the biggest animals will generally be found in limited entry areas, there are some incredible bulls and bucks taken every year in general OTC areas.

* Some licenses are not valid in all hunting district portions or for all shoulder season dates as described. See individual hunting regulations.

Mule Deer Permit Quota Changes

Elk Permit Quota Changes

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

Montana's deer season is incredibly generous and some areas even allow hunters to search out deer from September 3 through January 15 on a general tag! Montana features a five week any legal weapons season, which allows both whitetail and mule deer to be hunted throughout the entire cycle of the rut. The elk seasons are very generous for hunters holding either the general license or a permit. Starting Sept. 3, 2016, hunters will be able to head out in search of elk and hunt them with archery gear through the rut until Oct. 16. After that, the any weapons season runs from Oct. 22 through Nov. 27.

*No archery season in HD 316

Important Dates and Information

Other Important Information to Note

It is important for hunters to understand that any deer or elk permit obtained does not allow the taking of a second animal; rather, it grants the ability to hunt bucks and bulls with the use of your general tag in a restricted hunting district. In Montana, hunters who possess a mule deer permit are not allowed to hunt mule deer in any other hunting district in the state regardless of the other hunting districts being limited entry or general.

The Impact of Wolves and Other Predators

Wolves are easily the most debatable subject amongst the western hunting community, drawing the attention of hunters across the state. But the question remains: are they still a huge problem? While wolves are still running around the hills the elk hunting has been getting better. Speculation is buzzing in several directions praising this general trend on the “fear of man,” being instilled in the wolves to the extreme end of the spectrum of wolves simply being managed to lower population levels than before. Wolf numbers are still strong in historical areas centered around Yellowstone National Park yet general interactions and activity of wolves has diminished greatly in many other areas. With the nomadic nature of wolves, elk hunters should have several different areas, or districts, to hunt in the case wolf activity is found in your “spot.” While the elk won’t totally move out of the area the hunting can definitely become tough. As of Feb. 25, 2016, 202 wolves have been taken during the 2015-16 General and Trapping season. An additional three wolves were taken under Senate Bill 200 that allows 100 wolves that potentially threaten livestock, domestic dogs or human safety to be taken by landowners. A total of 207 wolves were taken during the 2014-15 season.

While not as openly broadcasted or spoken of as the damage to elk herds, wolves have also certainly taken their toll on mule deer herds. Along with that, black bear and mountain lion numbers have been on a very steady rise. A recent survey conducted by MFWP on mountain lions in the Bitterroot Valley yielded counts of more than double of what biologist predicted for the area.

Grizzly Bears

It is important to note that in some areas of the state, high densities of grizzlies will be found. Grizzly encounters with hikers and hunters has been on the rise. Last season, there were three grizzly encounters with hunters that resulted in maulings or the bear being put down. Currently, the U.S. Fish Wildlife and Service is debating on whether or not to open a grizzly season in the areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park. This area would include Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Whenever hunters are going to be hunting in areas where an encounter is possible it is highly recommended that bear spray or a side arm be carried and accessible.

Montana Estimated Grizzly Bear Range

Understanding the Draw

Hunters should fully understand a few things about Montana’s drawing process prior to applying for the desired tags and permits. A complete breakdown of the drawing process, dates and fees can be found in our Montana State Profile.

What Do I Get with My General Deer, Elk, or Big Game Combo?

Hunters who choose not to participate in the permit drawing selection will receive a general tag for the species that they applied for. This general tag can be used anywhere in the state as long as the specific hunting district they wish to hunt is not restricted to permit use only. Of the 162 huntable districts in Montana 38 require a permit to hunt mule deer and 45 require a permit to hunt bull elk. By utilizing our Filtering software, hunters can identify several great OTC hunting districts that can produce some outstanding bucks and bulls every year.

What Does Drawing a Permit Grant Me?

Hunters who draw a special permit will have the ability to hunt districts that are otherwise off limits to anyone else who has not drawn the specific permit. These districts generally hold some of the state's biggest animals and best trophies. It is important for nonresident hunters who wish to apply for permits to know that Montana only grants up to 10% of the allotted tags to nonresident hunters. In some cases, it’s possible for none of the tags in a given district to be awarded to a nonresident if none were ever drawn before the tag allocation was met.

2nd and 3rd Choice

In most cases, when applying for permits, you will have the option to select a second or third choice permit. Simply, if there are leftover tags in your second choice district after the drawings, then you will be awarded one of those. If that is full and a spot is available in your third choice district, then you will draw that. Drawing either your second or third choice will not use up your bonus points. Make sure that you understand the regulations because some districts that are an unlimited draw require that your first choice be the unlimited district. If applying for such an area, hunters should choose not to participate in the bonus point system as it will be wasted money and time.

Super Tag

The Super Tag 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 Super Tag drawing as they wish for $5 each. These are non refundable and must be purchased by July 2, 2016. If hunters draw a Super Tag in the same year that they have drawn a permit, then they must forfeit the permit back to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) who will then issue a full refund and reinstate any bonus points the individual possessed prior to the drawing.

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 given district will be set aside specifically for landowners, resident or nonresident, in that given district who meet the requirements. For deer, landowners must own, or be contracted to purchase, 160 acres that is primarily used for agriculture or 640 acres if applying for elk. Landowners who are not successful in drawing the 15% of 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.

Youth Combination License

Any youth between the ages of 12 and 17 can be sponsored by any grandparent, parent, or sibling over the age of 18, who will, in turn, be allowed to purchase their deer, elk or big game combo license at a much lower rate. The youth hunter must first possess a conservation license before purchasing the combo license.

Nonresident Come Home to Hunt

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.

Unlocking Montana’s System

Information on Montana's draw system can be found on our Montana State Profile.

Montana runs a bonus point system which squares each applicant's points, meaning a person holding four points now has 16 chances, five points has 25 chances, etc. For each year an applicant is unsuccessful, they will be awarded an additional bonus point as long as they chose to participate in the bonus point program. Once a permit has successfully been drawn the applicant surrenders all of their accumulated bonus points for that species.

The Bonus Point Race

2016 max bonus points for deer: 13

2016 max bonus points for elk: 13

Current Mule Deer Herd Condition

2015 was a great year for Montana deer with thriving populations after a string of easy winters and plenty of vegetation for horn growth this past spring. This year looks like it should provide the same with an easy winter so far, and predictions of another good year for vegetation growth. Whitetail herds are rebounding after a recent outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Bluetongue in the north central and west central portions of the state. While mule deer populations may be rebounding, the trophy potential in a few districts is beginning to slip fairly quickly. The blame for this has taken many avenues but it’s generally accepted as a result from predation, over harvest and mismanagement. On the other hand, a few districts did have an absolutely banner year. The statewide mule deer 4 point or better harvest saw the largest increase in three years and is on the upward trend since 2011.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (ehd)

EHD is a disease transmitted by midges and gnats as they bite deer and elk in the spring and summer months. Through their bite, the animals will develop a nearly always fatal infection. As the infection spreads, mass hemorrhaging and fever will occur that will eventually lead to the animals seeking out water to submerse themselves in. Nearly all of the deer that die from this disease are found in or near a body of water.

While Montana is generally below the radar for anyone looking for trophy quality mule deer, there is still some great hunting for someone not looking to play the points game and just wants to hunt a general district. A few giants will be pulled off general districts every year, but by far and large, the biggest animals will consistently come from permit districts. With Montana’s tag allocation of 10% or less going to nonresident applicants, many will be looking to spend their points and money elsewhere while saving the state’s general tags for a backup. General populations throughout the state have been on a decline for the last 10 years. Yet, herds have begin to stabilize although trophy potential has suffered. The biggest deer continue to come out of the Bitterroot Valley, though the venerable HD 270 has been slipping in recent years and the average trophy quality has dropped greatly.

The GOHUNT Hit List Hunting Districts for Montana Mule Deer

The scouting and research game has been significantly simplified with our Filtering system. With this, hunters can look at every district in the state and find out exactly which districts meet their criteria. Once likely hunting districts have been located you can visit their respective district profiles to learn more about the immediate area and what tools you will need to be successful. Also check out our state profile to stay current with the status of Montana’s wildlife.

To Get Started with Filtering 2.0

For instance, let’s say you are a nonresident hunter, have minimal bonus points of two, want to hunt bucks with the trophy potential of 160”+ and want an area with a tag drawing rate of 40% or higher and a harvest success rate of 50% or higher. Sounds like a pipe dream, right? Most people would also agree, until they watch Filtering go to work. Using those parameters, you will be able to narrow the search down to HD 530, which gives a 48% chance of drawing as a nonresident with two points and a harvest success rate of 53% with 69% of those deer being comprised of bucks with 4 points or more. Getting familiar with this software will allow hunters to see the whole picture all at once and reduce the risk of burning points on a district that may not live up to your expectations.

Montana’s OTC General Buck Districts, What Are They All About?

Deer hunters have a great range of opportunity with general season tags. Some of the biggest bucks in Montana have been harvested from the general hunting districts in both the western and eastern portion of the state.

Current Whitetail Deer Herd Condition

The whitetail herd in Montana is doing great after a few recent years of EHD breakouts that killed thousands of deer. There are great numbers of deer found throughout the state along with good trophy potentials. Whitetail can be hunted across the state on your general tag and will be found in every district. North central and west central Montana is continually producing some of the largest deer, but, every once in awhile, a true giant of a mountain buck will be pulled out the jungles of northwest Montana. These areas will typically see very low success odds due largely in part to the terrain, but the trophy potential is almost uncapped.

Trending Areas

With the complete lack of disease, moderately easy winters lately and few hunters Region 1 (HDs 100 to 170) is a great place for someone actively seeking out a giant whitetail. This area is not for the faint of heart as deer populations are lower than in other regions in the state and the terrain is almost a jungle. Deer sightings will be low yet the trophy potential will be extremely high. Glassing will be near impossible in Region 1 with the exception of clear cuts and most hunters will find success by still hunting or calling. Hunters wishing to look over more deer will enjoy hunting Region 3 (HDs 300 to 393). With more open country conducive to glassing, hunters will have the opportunity to look at deer from long range with the hopes of locating the buck of their dreams and then, stalking in. At any rate, even if looking for mule deer, hunters should keep an eye out for whitetail as great deer can be found throughout the state.

* 22 other HDs with a 140" plus trophy potential.

Five Year Boone & Crockett Entry Trends for Montana Whitetail Deer

Managing Deer Bonus Points and Expectations

Before applying for Montana is it very important for hunters to determine what they want. Some may want the trophy of a lifetime while others may want the adventure of a lifetime; some may want both. With Montana’s draw system only offering an 80% refund on your application, it may be necessary to prioritize your hunts in other states and put one or the other on hold so both can be hunted to their full potential. It is important to note that for two years consecutively it is not necessary to build or use Montana points. Yet, if no activity has been made with your points after three years, then they are automatically forfeited.

To start your planning, you should use our Filtering software. By manipulating the sliders to choose your desired minimum trophy potential and harvest odds you will be presented with a list of remaining districts that will meet your criteria. This can also be a great way to discover areas not on your radar that may take far less points to draw than your current Hunting District choice. Next, by visiting the Draw Odds page, it will be easy to decide which Hunting Districts to start with and approximately how many points it will take to draw them. It is important to note that bonus points simply mean more names in the hat and a higher point count does not directly relate to drawing a tag, though the squaring of points does help.

Another topic that needs some attention is whether or not to hire an outfitter. When going for the best trophy districts in the state it’s not uncommon for a nonresident applicant to spend nearly $1,500 and 10 years worth of effort in drawing these tags and most hunters will never draw another. If you're unsure about using a guide, check out a drop camp, which can be another great option.

A single deer point will cost you $127.40 if you are not wanting to hunt the state on your general tag.

For hunters looking to hunt some of the trophy districts in the state it will be necessary to accumulate points for 10 or more years, and it will be important, while point building, to apply in the hardest areas to draw in the state to avoid using points on an unwanted district.

Find your draw odds

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

Mule deer

When you first start building points for Montana it is important to know what your long term goal will be. Do you want to build enough points to go after the top tier deer in the state or do you want to sacrifice a little antler and go for districts that can be drawn more often and still provide a great hunt? Be aware that with MFWP only delegates up to 10% of the state's allocated tags for nonresident tag holders.

With Montana’s licenses not selling out the past few years, it is safe to say that nonresidents will still draw a general deer license. A general license will allow you to hunt the majority (77%) of the state.

If you want to go after the biggest and the best, then your best plan of attack is to put in for the district you really want to hunt. With Montana’s lottery drawing there is always a small chance that you could draw the tag early on. For anyone who decides on this route, please note that some unlimited districts (100% draw) can be drawn as your second choice without sacrificing points even though the hunter will not be able to hunt any other district in the state for mule deer.

If you are interested in building points for a few years before cashing them in, start throwing them on the best hunts with the lowest odds or simply apply consistently for the district that you want. By only applying for the district you're interested in, though, for the next few years, you are limiting yourself to a chance in that district only. By throwing your name into the pool of the best hunts in the state you will not only almost always guarantee yourself a point but you might actually draw one of those hunts! A great plan at this point also would be to establish a good unlimited permit area or general area to be used as a contingency in the likely factor that you do not draw your first choice permit. Check out HD 410, HD 442, HD 445, HD 701, HD 702, HD 704 and HD 705 for some good hunting on a general tag.

Whitetail

Montana only has one permit area for whitetail bucks. HD 455 is open for hunting on a general deer license during archery season, but you must apply for the permit to hunt for whitetails in the rifle season. Draw odds are very slim for this district. With zero points nonresidents have a 0.12% chance to draw this permit.

What Can I Do with 3 or 4 Deer Bonus Points?

Mule deer

When you have three to four points your list of available districts becomes much smaller as a nonresident, yet the quality of deer gets much higher. As a nonresident applicant you want to focus your attention on HD 250 or HD 530. HD 250 is one of the greatest success stories in western Montana. After massive predator influence and huge fires in a lot of the Hunting Districts the animal population was decimated. Through careful planning mule deer have reached a trophy potential of 160” plus in just a handful of years with a 200” plus being taken in the 2015 season. HD 530 is on a current downward trend as far as population is concerned, but some big bucks can still be found.

Whitetail

Again, Montana only has one permit area for whitetail bucks, HD 455. With three to four points nonresidents are barely breaking over 2% chance to draw this permit.

What Can I Expect with 9 or 10 Deer Bonus Points?

Mule deer

Now, you are in the chips. With nine or 10 points you are looking at the districts consistently producing the best bucks of the state: HD 261 and HD 270. While your odds are still low even for 10 points, 4% or less, this is your best bet for killing a 200” Montana mule deer. HD 261 has been on an incredible run lately with four bucks over 190” being taken in the 2015 season and huge bucks taken every year. HD 270, while still producing giant deer, is nowhere near where it was four to five years ago. The age class has dropped significantly and prominent 2 and 3 point genes are making a stance. Hunters will likely be settling on deer in the mid 180s, though some giants still roam the district. In 2015, 6,354 people applied for the 45 deer permits in HD 270, and this was an increase of 714 applicants from the year before. Permits numbers increased to 60 permits for HD 270 in 2016... but don't expect draw odds to get any better. We will continue to see draw odds decreasing for this district and the only thing an increase in 15 permits will do is bring more applicants and money to the state of Montana. Be sure to check your draw odds before you apply.

Whitetail

Again, Montana only has one permit area for whitetail bucks, HD 455. At 10 points nonresidents are still a long ways from confidently drawing this permit and only have a 11% draw odds.

Current Elk Herd Condition

Montana’s elk population, while on a historic low, has been on a pretty steady rise in recent years and hunting has been increasing greatly in many areas. With consecutive mild winters and great spring time growth, great bulls taken over during the last few years. Early predictions are indicating a mild finish to this winter and another wet spring, 2016 should be a great year for antler growth. The statewide elk 6 point or better harvest saw a huge increase and is on the upward trend after dropping from 2012/2013.

The GOHUNT Hit List Hunting Districts for Montana Elk

How to Uncover Hidden Gem Elk Districts

The scouting and research game has been significantly simplified with our Filtering system. With this, hunters can look at every district in the state and find out exactly which districts meet their criteria. Once hunting districts have been located, visit their respective district profile to learn more about the immediate area and what tools you will need to be successful. Be sure to also check out our state profile to stay current with the status of Montana’s wildlife.

By using Filtering hunters will find that Montana has a lot to offer in the way of general hunting districts. While you may be holding out for one of the coveted tags, don’t forget to also explore these OTC districts.

Five Year Boone & Crockett Entry Trends for Montana Elk

* 7 other counties with two entries.

Is There Opportunity among Montana Elk?

Absolutely! Montana is a great state for general season elk hunting. It has one of the best general archery seasons in the entire country, and bowhunters have a full six weeks of hunting. Couple that with a lot of public land, and the majority of the elk coming from the western portion of the state and hunters have a great opportunity to get away from the crowds and be successful.

Montana’s general areas are perfect for growing older age class bulls. Plus, the majority of the state’s record class bulls have came from general districts. Keep in mind, the western half of the state can be very remote and the mountains are rugged, but with a long season, hunters can have a solid chance at a trophy bull.

The best part about hunting elk in Montana? If you do not tag out in the archery season, you can turn around and hunt for another five weeks with a rifle. Montana is a rarity when it comes to opportunity.

Managing Elk Bonus Points and Expectations

For hunters who are looking to draw the top tier hunting districts in the state, a lengthy road lies ahead of them. Expect to accumulate points for 10 to 15 years before expecting to draw, though people do get lucky every year.

Before applying for Montana is it very important for hunters to determine what they want. Some may want the trophy of a lifetime while others may want the adventure of a lifetime; some may want both. With Montana’s draw system only offering an 80% refund on your application, it may be necessary to prioritize your hunts in other states and put one or the other on hold so both can be hunted to their full potential. It is important to note that for two years consecutively it is not necessary to build or use Montana points. Yet, if no activity has been made with your points after three years they will be automatically forfeited.

A single elk point will cost you $179 if you are not wanting to hunt the state on your general tag.

Find your draw odds

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

When you first start building points for Montana it is important that you ask yourself what the long term goal will be. Do you want to build enough points to go after the top tier elk in the state or do you want to sacrifice a little antler and go for hunting districts that can be drawn more frequently and still provide a great hunt?

If you are wanting to go after the biggest and the best, then your best plan of attack is to simply put in for the district you ultimately want to hunt. With Montana’s lottery drawing, there is always a small chance that you may draw the tag early on. For those of you who take this route, you should also note that some unlimited districts (100% draw) can be drawn as your second choice without sacrificing points.

If you are interested in building points for a few years before cashing them in, start throwing them on the best hunts with the lowest odds or simply apply consistently for the district that you want. By only applying for the district you're interested in, though, for the next few years, you are limiting yourself to a chance in that district only. By throwing your name into the pool of the best hunts in the state you will not only almost always guarantee yourself a point, but you might actually draw one of those hunts! A great plan at this point would be to establish a good unlimited permit area or general area to be used as a contingency plan in the likely factor that you do not draw your first choice permit.

The odds of drawing any special draw permits at this point in the game are virtually non-existent and hunters should be focusing on either simply building points and cashing in for the refund or hunting the OTC general districts while their points accumulate. There are three HDs (HD 270, HD 310 and HD 313) that a nonresident has 100% draw odds with zero points

With Montana’s licenses not selling out the past few years, it is safe to say that nonresidents will still draw a Big Game Combination or Elk Combination license for 2016. You can check the odds of drawing a general nonresident elk license here.

If you choose to hunt the general districts, focus your efforts in Region 2, 3 and 4. The Sapphire Range in Region 2 can provide some good hunting though the populations are lower here and the trophy potential of bulls will be smaller. Look to hunt districts 204, 211, 216 and 261. Region 3 will provide a much higher population of elk and, as a result, hunters in this region should also be very aware of the concentration of grizzlies if hunting the areas around Yellowstone National Park. Look at hunting districts 325, 330, 360, 361 and 362. Region 4 will provide some of the highest harvest rates in the state and some great late season opportunities during the any weapons season; look at districts 411, 416, 421, 422, 423, 424 and 425.

What Can I Do with 3 or 4 Elk Bonus Points?

Once you have accumulated three to four points, you are sitting at a pretty major crossroad. If you continue to apply for points you can start to seriously consider the fact that you may draw the best district in the state in upcoming years. Conversely, you can cash in your points now for an opportunity to bowhunt the Missouri River Breaks, commonly referred to as “The Breaks.” This area located near Fort Peck Reservoir and the Missour River is a prime destination for elk hunters. The area is known for many things, including lots of elk, lots of mud and huge bulls.

Hunting in The Breaks can be a massive chore in itself from gumbo that will sink your pickup to mosquito hordes of biblical proportions. Yet, hunters will find excellent hunting here with good elk populations, great bulls and generally decent access. The best districts to consider putting your points on for archery include 410, 417, 620, 621, 622, 630 and 631. All of those HDs have draw odds ranging from 89% and up.

If you wish to continue to build points, then continue to hunt the general districts of Region 2, 3 and 4.

What Can I Expect with 9 or 10 Elk Bonus Points?

Now you're at the top of the heap. With this many points you now have reasonable chance at the two best districts to drop your points into: The Elkhorn Mountains, HD 380, and the Bearpaw Mountains, HD 690. Both of these will offer great rifle and archery hunting with the opportunity for bulls in the 350” plus up to, and exceeding, 400” on occasion. Both districts, in general, have been on a downward trend in the quantity of bulls taken each year yet the quality has remained the same. In HD 690 there are two permits available: one for the archery only season and one for the any weapons season. In HD 380, any hunter may hunt antlerless elk and spikes on the general tag leading to an abundance of pressure from elk hunters that do not possess the permit. This can make the hunting tough at times unless permission can be sought to hunt private land. Archery season, in general, will see less pressure. Draw odds are very slim for HD 380. In 2015, 10,839 people applied for the 120 elk permits in HD 380, and this was an increase of 1,501 applicants from the year before.

Also, resident and nonresident hunters looking to draw rifle permits should look at HDs 410, 417, 620, 621, 622, 630 and 631. Be sure to check your draw odds before you apply.