New for 2018

State Information

Source: Montana Field Guide

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2018 Montana snow water equivalent update as of April 10, 2018. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

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The Montana Draw System

Montana's 2018 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

Shawnee H. with her 2017 Montana bighorn sheep.

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Montana's 2018 Shiras Moose Breakdown

Ryan G. with his 2017 Montana Shiras moose.

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Montana's 2018 Rocky Mountain Goat Breakdown

Mike M. with his 2017 Montana mountain goat.

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Montana's 2018 Bison Breakdown

TJ B. with his 2017 Montana bison.

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Montana's 2018 Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Mountain Goat and Bison Application Overview

Along with great deer and elk opportunities, hopeful applicants will also find a dream hunt if they draw a coveted Montana moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat or bison tag. The state is home to large populations of each of the four species and holds great trophy quality, too. Draw odds for residents are steep and even steeper for nonresidents, but the cheap costs to apply make this a no brainer for anyone. Montana offers more available hunts per species than most of the other western states and formulating a good game plan heading into the application period can be pivotal.

Note: The application deadline for Montana moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison is May 1, 2018 by 11:45 p.m. MST and can be mailed in or completed online.

Why Montana for Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Mountain Goat and Bison

Great Trophy Potential

Montana provides great opportunities at harvesting record book animals in each species with the crowning jewel lying in the state’s bighorn sheep herds. In fact, Montana has produced more record book rams than nearly every other state and province combined!

Public Land

Montana is home to almost 30 million acres of publicly accessible land, including an additional 7.3 million acres of private land enrolled in the Block Management Program.

Options, Options, Options

Montana offers lots of options when it comes to applying for any of the big four, including 33 bighorn sheep hunts, 39 mountain goat hunts, 82 moose hunts and four bison hunts.

Generous Seasons

Montana offers long seasons for anyone lucky enough to be holding a tag, including two weeks of archery only for bighorn sheep and moose, eight weeks of any weapon for bighorn sheep, mountain goat or moose and a 13-week any weapon season for bison!

Every other year (even years: 2016, 2018, etc..) Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) will adopt and implement season changes. These changes can affect bag limits, hunt district boundaries and even the creation or removal of districts. Be sure to check over the following changes adopted for the 2018 season to see if it has affected your chosen areas.

Bighorn Sheep

Moose

Mountain Goat

In all hunting districts in Regions 1, 2 and 4 it is illegal to take a female mountain goat accompanying a kid or a female mountain goat in a group that contains one or more kids.

Bison

HD 395: The West Yellowstone Area — Create new boundaries for northern and southern portions and rename them Gallatin Watershed and Madison Watershed Portions. Close the new north Gallatin Watershed portion.

New for GOHUNT

For 2018, GOHUNT has added Draw Odds for all female species.

Ewe Bighorn Draw Odds

Find your resident ewe bighorn draw odds here

Find your nonresident ewe bighorn draw odds here

Nanny Mountain Goat Draw Odds

Find your resident nanny mountain goat draw odds here

Find your nonresident nanny mountain goat draw odds here

Cow Moose Draw Odds

Find your resident cow moose draw odds here

Find your nonresident cow moose draw odds here

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.

Important Dates and Information

There are not any sanctioned archery-only seasons for mountain goat and bison.

Wolves in Montana

With the Montana wolf hunting and trapping season well established for the last few years, the amount of predatory activity has definitely subsided to some degree; however, the evidence is still, and will likely always be, visible. With the current winter being mild across most of the state, with the exception of the northwest corner of the state, we should see a fairly normal year in terms in winterkill due to predators and likely a good calf, kid, and lamb recruitment for the spring.

Grizzly Bears in Montana

Source: Montana Field Guide

Grizzly bear encounters continue to climb in Montana, causing major concern for hunters in some areas. Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act has been removed from bears within the Greater Yellowstone Area and, because of that, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana have all submitted proposals for grizzly bear management plans. Even so, MFWP has recently announced that they will not endorse a 2018 season when they meet with the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission last February. MFWP Director Martha Williams was quoted as saying “Holding off on hunting, for now, I believe, will help demonstrate our commitment to long-term recovery and at the same time allow us the science-based management flexibility we need.” Time will tell if Montana hunters will see a season in 2019.

Considered one of the highest densities of grizzlies in the Lower 48, the population found in the northern Rockies is still under federal protections and is not expected to be released from the list for an additional three to four years. Research your hunt area carefully and examine the grizzly population distribution map. If you are hunting in grizzly country, it is imperative to practice safe camping and hunting. More information on bear safety can be found here.

Current Weather/snowpack

2018 Montana snow water equivalent update as of April 10, 2018. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

With the major scare of last year's winter, Montana has kept an anxious eye on snowfall for the current year. We are currently trending an average of about 30% higher than last year for precipitation—both snow and rain—though overall snow levels are lower. During this past spring, it was obvious that Montana dodged a major bullet in terms of winterkill when looking at some of the major hits in Wyoming and Idaho. In fact, Montana saw some great antler growth and good feed throughout spring. With this year’s current trend, we should be in store for another great year. Montana saw a very dry summer in 2017—one of the worst on record—so it will be interesting to see how 2018 plays out. If the high precipitation levels continue, this could be a phenomenal year to hold a tag in the Treasure State.

2018 Tentative Nonresident Hunting Districts

Nonresident Hunting District choices rotate yearly for sheep, moose and mountain goat. Districts may change when final quotas are set in July. Be sure to check the information carefully to ensure you are applying for the correct hunting district because the area you applied for last year may no longer be offered. See each species breakdown below for the list of nonresident hunting district choices for 2018.

Understanding the Draw

It is important to understand the draw system before you begin. You can find a complete explanation of the draw process along with important dates and fees in our Montana State Profile. As a prerequisite, residents and nonresidents must at least possess a base hunting license before applying. The cost for the base hunting license is $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents.

Nonresident Tag Allocation

In Montana, nonresident applicants are awarded up to 10% of a district’s permits. The 10% quota is not a guarantee, though, and it is possible for residents to be drawn for every permit in a hunting district before a nonresident's name is pulled out of the hat.

2018 Nonresident Districts

Nonresident allocations for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat are set by region and then distributed to specific hunt districts within a region. The quota of nonresident tags as well as available hunt districts differ from year to year and are on a controlled rotation system. To simplify this, if a nonresident applicant applied for a hunt district last year that permit may be an unavailable option for the 2018 season. A detailed list of all available nonresident permits will be included in each of the species breakdowns.

Montana 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 SuperTag in the same year that they have drawn a 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.

The Downside to Montana’s Cheap Application Fees

For any applicants already possessing their base hunting license the application fee for trophy species is only $10 per animal for residents and $50 per for nonresidents. This does not include the bonus point cost of $2 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. While the low fees are great since it allows anyone to apply at a minimal cost it has also driven draw odds to an even more depressing low. Since this change in fees was implemented in 2014, application numbers have drastically increased. Below is an in-depth breakdown of Montana’s total applications by species since 2012.

A Fine Scale Example for Montana Sheep

In the past eight years, 2015 to 2017 are the only years that applications actually decreased for HD 680.

*2014 through 2017 are years following the application fee change.

Unlocking Montana's System

Moose and Mountain Goat

Bighorn Sheep

How Do My Bonus Points Work?

Montana runs solely on a bonus point system via a random lottery drawing. A few years ago, Montana began squaring each applicant's points in an effort to weight the draws in the odds of those individuals possessing the most points. Two points become four, five points becomes 25 and so on. Points are earned after an applicant is unsuccessful in drawing his or her preferred tag. Points cost $2 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. Each year a hunter is unsuccessful, another point will be added to their tally to be used during the next year. Once a tag is successfully drawn, the applicant forfeits their points. Inactivity for two consecutive years on your ALS account for points on a given species will result in the loss of your accumulated points. Points may only be used on first choice tags and cannot be transferred. Bison is the only animal on the list that does not use bonus points.

Second and Third Choice

In most cases, when applying for permits, you will have the option to select a second or third choice permit. Basically, if there are leftover tags in your second choice district after the drawings you will be awarded one of those; if that is full and a spot is available in your third choice district you will draw that. Drawing either your second or third choice will not use up your bonus points. Be mindful of the regulations as some hunting 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 you will then lose you points and it will be wasted money and time.

Shawnee H. with her 2017 Montana bighorn sheep.

When it comes to Montana’s population of bighorn sheep, hunters can rest assured of one fact: they are hunting the world's biggest sheep. In fact, out of the top 20 bighorn sheep in the world, Montana currently holds 12 of the spots, including the new world record ram scoring an impressive 216 ⅜ Boone and Crockett (B&C)! Like most of the other states, the draw odds for both residents and nonresidents alike are dismally low; however, anyone lucky enough to pull a tag will be in for a hunt of a lifetime. Every year, rams near the 200” mark are taken with many of the “average” rams landing the 170s. Along with the permit areas, hunters can also test their physical and mental resolve in one of five available over-the-counter (OTC) sheep hunting opportunities. Here, the challenges are daunting, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Current 2018 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Herd Condition

Overall, Montana’s bighorn sheep population is doing fairly good. Recent outbreaks of mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, or sheep pneumonia, have been largely controlled though the threat is still very real. 2017 was a great year with some great rams taken, including a 208 ⅜” B&C ram that is now the largest ram ever taken by a hunter. The state’s current population of bighorn sheep is estimated at 6,615 animals.

Montana’s Unlimited Bighorn Sheep Hunting Districts

Perhaps the most unique perk to Montana’s bighorn sheep season is the fact that the state features five hunt districts with unlimited quotas (300, 303, 500, 501, 502). With these, hunters need to simply apply for the permit and it is a guaranteed draw. The districts are run on a quota system and, once the quota is met, the district will be closed within a 48 hour period. While this may sound incredibly appealing at first, hunters need to be aware that these permits are considered some of the hardest tags in the world to fill. Animal densities are dismally low, the country is ruthless, and hunters often encounter grizzlies. Still, with all of the apparent cons to this, any hunter who undertakes this challenge will be in for an incredible adventure that is sure to be retold for years to come.

When applying for unlimited districts it is important to note that the hunt must be listed as your first choice. If you choose to participate in the bonus point program during your application you will lose all of your accumulated points once the permit is drawn. Instead, choose to not participate in points so you can draw the tag without it affecting your point count. By doing so you will also be ineligible to build a point for that year.

2018 Nonresident Bighorn Sheep Districts

How to Uncover Hidden Gem Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Districts

With nearly every hunting district in the state offering opportunities at great rams, hunters will be hard pressed to find any uncovered sleeper districts for bighorn sheep. In the grand scheme of things, bighorn sheep tag draw odds are extremely low; however, with the Montana lottery system, there is always a chance that anyone can draw.

While not a true hidden gem, the biggest sheep are still found in the famous Missouri River Breaks (482, 620, 622, 680) though 200” rams are getting somewhat more scarce than in prior years. But, this is good information to keep in mind because the draw odds are steep. Region 1 has also historically produced a number of rams in the 190”+ range. Below we will break down the hottest districts in the state.

B&c Entry Trends for Montana Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

When it comes to Montana, nearly every district will produce a book ram meeting the B&C minimum requirements of 175”. By examining the table below, it will quickly become clear the that the districts found in the Missouri River Breaks produce the most book rams; however, it is also important to note that these districts also hand out the most tags. Because of this fact, these districts routinely see the highest number of applications leading to some possible angles for hunters to move in on districts that may fly under the radar of most.

Hunting Districts listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Districts in this table are considered if any part of the district is found within any part of the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Along with producing more book rams than any other state or province in the world, Montana also holds the record for the most 200”+ rams entered into the B&C record books.

The Point System

Montana utilizes a random lottery draw for permits that are weighted through bonus points. While this system is great for applicants with only a handful of points, it doesn't reward applicants at the maximum point level. The bottom line is: if you have a district you want to hunt then apply! No matter the draw odds you still have a chance at drawing. Every year that you are unsuccessful in drawing a desired permit you will be awarded a bonus point to use the following year. When used, bonus points are squared so an applicant with four points will have 16 total chances in the pool.

If you did not participate in the draws you can purchase bonus points anytime from July 1 through Sept. 30 for a fee of $15 for residents and $75 for nonresidents.

Managing Points and Expectations

With Montana utilizing a random draw, it is important to understand that possessing the maximum number of points will never guarantee a tag like other states that utilize preference points.

Maximum points going into the 2018 draw: 17

I Have 0 Bighorn Sheep Bonus Points. What Can I Expect?

The unfortunate truth is that the odds are stacked so heavily against you at this point that the opportunity of drawing a tag are almost nonexistent. The only glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel is that, with Montana’s lottery system, there is always a small chance that you may pull a tag ahead of maximum point holders. At this point, you’ll have a few options that include going after the unlimited districts and simply being happy with a sheep tag in your pocket every year, applying for some of the easier to draw ewe tags, or picking your number one choice and starting the waiting game.

For nonresidents, as available districts are rotated through the years, it will be important to identify several contingency districts in the case that your number one selection is not available for the current application period. Remember that applying for a closed district will automatically forfeit your application.

Find your resident bighorn sheep draw odds with 0 points here

Find your nonresident bighorn sheep draw odds with 0 points here

What Can I Expect with 5 to 6 Bighorn Sheep Bonus Points?

Nonresidents will not see a noticeable bump of draw odds with five to six points; however, residents will see almost every ewe district now available with reasonable draw odds. Still, with Montana’s lottery system there is always the chance of pulling a permit.

Find your resident bighorn sheep draw odds with 6 points here

Find your nonresident bighorn sheep draw odds with 6 points here

What Can I Expect with 10 plus Bighorn Sheep Bonus Points?

Unfortunately, as you near the top of the points pool your odds of drawing a tag are only marginally better, but better nonetheless. After you’ve invested this much time and money into the points system, it’s best to hold out for your district of choice. Every year, many point holders at the higher end of the spectrum grow tired of waiting and simply cash out on ewe tags or even focus on some of the unlimited districts in hopes of simply harvesting a bighorn sheep in their lifetime. This will be a decision that is ultimately faced by most applicants at some point and can require some serious thought.

Find your resident bighorn sheep draw odds with 10 points here

Find your nonresident bighorn sheep draw odds with 10 points here

Ryan G. with his 2017 Montana Shiras moose.

Montana is somewhat of a sleeper state when it comes to big bull moose and a large majority of the hunting districts will provide opportunities at bulls over the 40” wide mark. The draw odds, like most of the other western states, are very steep. Unfortunately, that is the name of the game with moose permits. Hunters looking to apply for a moose permit in Montana will be happy to find a vast array of terrain types to consider from the jungles of the northwest part of the state to the wide, high elevation sage flats found in the southwest. Either way you look at it, drawing a coveted moose permit is going to lead to the adventure of a lifetime!

Current 2018 Moose Herd Condition

Overall Montana’s moose population is doing fair. Numbers have been on a decline in recent years and biologists with MFWP have been working diligently to find a cause and eventual solution. So far, nothing has been officially called as the culprit, but the two more generally accepted reasonings seem to be predation and diseases spread through ticks.

2018 Nonresident Shiras Moose Hunt Districts

Every year the available districts for nonresidents to apply for Shiras Moose will change, meaning that the district you apply for this year may or may not be available to apply for the following year. This means that it is incredibly important to pay attention when applying for a district that is currently closed to nonresident applicants. If a nonresident applies for a closed district, it will result in an ineligible application.

How to Uncover Hidden Gem Shiras Moose Hunt Districts

When it comes to any of the big name species the unfortunate truth is that hunters will never really find any hidden or overlooked hunt units. That being said, there are definitely some districts that can offer marginally better draw odds, especially when you get into the upper end of the points game.

B&c Entry Trends for Montana Shiras Moose

While Montana is not commonly recognized as a trophy state for Shiras moose, many hunters would be shocked to see the number of record book entries that have come out of the Treasure State. Below we break down the top counties for record book entries in Montana as well as a breakdown of total record book entries since 2010 for each state across the West.

Hunting Districts listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Districts in this table are considered if any part of the district is found within any part of the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

* Includes both residents and nonresidents

* Includes both residents and nonresidents* The 398-50 permit is good in HDs 308, 313 and 360. The public land percentage is an average between the three districts.

The Points System

Montana utilizes a random lottery draw for permits that is weighted through bonus points. While this system is great for applicants with only a handful of points, it doesn't reward applicants at the maximum point level. The bottom line is: if you have a district you want to hunt then apply! No matter the draw odds you still have a chance at drawing. Every year that you are unsuccessful in drawing a desired permit you will be awarded a bonus point to use the following year. When used, bonus points are squared so an applicant with four points will have 16 total chances in the pool.

If you did not participate in the draw you can purchase bonus points anytime from July 1 through Sept. 30 for a fee of $15 for residents and $75 for nonresidents.

Managing Expectations

With Montana utilizing a random draw, it is important to understand that possessing the maximum number of points will never guarantee a tag like other states that utilize preference points.

Maximum points going into the 2018 draw: 17

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

The unfortunate truth is that the odds are stacked so heavily against you at this point that the opportunity of drawing a tag is almost nonexistent. The only glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel is that, with Montana’s lottery system, there is always a small chance that you may pull a tag ahead of maximum point holders. For nonresidents, as available districts are rotated through the years, it will be important to identify several contingency districts in the case that your number one selection is not available for the current application period. Remember that applying for a closed district will automatically forfeit your application.

Find your resident moose draw odds with 0 points here

Find your nonresident moose draw odds with 0 points here

What Can I Expect with 5 to 6 Moose Bonus Points?

You will not see a noticeable bump of draw odds with five to six points, but, with the Montana lottery system, there is always the chance of pulling a permit. At this point it’s best to just hold the course and continue to apply for your preferred district.

Find your resident moose draw odds with 6 points here

Find your nonresident moose draw odds with 6 points here

What Can I Expect with 10+ Moose Bonus Points?

Unfortunately, as you near the top of the points pool your odds of drawing a tag are only marginally better, but better nonetheless. After you’ve invested this much time and money into the points system, it’s best to hold out for your district of choice.

Find your resident moose draw odds with 10 points here

Find your nonresident moose draw odds with 10 points here

Mike M. with his 2017 Montana mountain goat.

Montana used to be known as one of the top mountain goat states in the West, but has been on a decline in recent years. Hunters can still expect a great hunt with good trophy quality, but the number of book type animals is getting smaller and smaller. Of all of the big name species, the mountain goats carry slightly better draw odds and are sure to provide a memorable experience set in some of the most breathtaking country found in the Lower 48!

Current 2018 Mountain Goat Herd Condition

While great hunting can still be had, it’s no secret that Montana’s mountain goat population has been dropping in recent years. A fair assessment of this fact can be seen in the above table that illustrates the drop in available permits each year. While nothing has been officially stated as being a direct cause of this decrease, it is generally accepted that a decline of nutrient-rich foods coupled with the slow reproduction nature of mountain goat are major factors.

* MFWP did not collect any data for billy and nanny harvests for this year.

2018 Nonresident Mountain Goat Hunt Districts

Every year, the available districts for nonresidents to apply for mountain goat will revolve, meaning that the district you apply for this year may or may not be available to apply for the following year. This means that it is incredibly important to pay attention to when applying for a district. If a nonresident applies to a district that is currently closed to nonresident applicants, it will result in an ineligible application.

How to Uncover Hidden Gem Mountain Goat Hunt Districts

When it comes to any of the big name species the unfortunate truth is that hunters will never really find any hidden or overlooked districts. That being said, there are definitely some hunt districts that can offer marginally better draw odds, especially when you get into the upper end of the points game.

B&c Entry Trends for Montana Rocky Mountain Goat

While Montana may not be home to the biggest mountain goats in the West, it does offer many great hunts that can occasionally produce record book animals. Below is a list of the top record book producing counties found in the state.

Hunting Districts listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Districts in this table are considered if any part of the district is found within any part of the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

* Includes both residents and nonresidents

* Includes both residents and nonresidents**MFWP does not differentiate harvest data between the 313-20 and 313-30 mountain goat hunt. Success is based of the total number of goats taken and the total number of permits between the two hunts.

The Points System

Montana utilizes a random lottery draw for permits that is weighted through bonus points. While this system is great for applicants with only a handful of points, it doesn't reward applicants at the maximum point level. The bottom line is: if you have a district you want to hunt, then apply! No matter the draw odds you still have a chance at drawing. Every year that you are unsuccessful in drawing a desired permit you will be awarded a bonus point to use the following year. When used, bonus points are squared so an applicant with four points will have 16 total chances in the pool.

If you did not participate in the draw you can purchase bonus points anytime from July 1 through Sept. 30 for a fee of $15 for residents and $75 for nonresidents.

Managing Points and Expectations

With Montana utilizing a random draw, it is important to understand that possessing the maximum number of points will never guarantee a tag like other states that utilize preference points.

Maximum points going into the 2018 draw: 17

I Have 0 Mountain Goat Bonus Points. What Can I Expect?

The unfortunate truth is that the odds are stacked so heavily against you at this point that the opportunity of drawing a tag are almost nonexistent. The only glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel is that, with Montana’s lottery system, there is always a small chance that you may pull a tag ahead of maximum point holders.

Beginning from ground zero, a good starting point for most applicants will be to focus on the districts with the highest tag outputs such as 313, 314, 316, 323, and 329. While bigger goats can generally be found in the other districts these will generally offer the best draw odds and still have some great opportunities at mature animals. If your desired district does not fall into the above list, then start throwing your name into the bucket and hope the random draw is on your side.

If you are simply looking to hunt mountain goats, the nanny only tags do hold marginally better draw odds. For nonresidents, as available districts are rotated through the years, it will be important to identify several contingency districts in the case that your number one selection is not available for the current application period. Remember that applying for a closed district will automatically forfeit your application.

Find your resident mountain goat draw odds with 0 points here

Find your nonresident mountain goat draw odds with 0 points here

What Can I Expect with 5 to 6 Mountain Goat Bonus Points?

You will see a marginal bump of draw odds with five to six points, but, with the Montana lottery system, there is still always the chance of pulling a permit. At this point, it’s best to just hold the course and continue to apply for your preferred district.

Find your resident mountain goat draw odds with 6 points here

Find your nonresident mountain goat draw odds with 6 points here

What Can I Expect with 10+ Mountain Goat Bonus Points?

Unfortunately, as you near the top of the points pool your odds of drawing a tag are only marginally better, but better nonetheless. After you’ve invested this much time and money into the points system, it’s best to hold out for your district of choice.

Find your resident mountain goat draw odds with 10 points here

Find your nonresident mountain goat draw odds with 10 points here

TJ B. with his 2017 Montana bison.

Along with the big three (moose, sheep, and mountain goat), hunters in Montana also have the opportunity to apply for bison tags. The bison hunt is centered around the Yellowstone National Park (YNP) herds as they follow their historical migratory routes into the Gardiner and West Yellowstone valleys. This hunt is extremely weather dependent and during years of light snowfall lucky permit hunters may be able to do nothing, but simply watch the buffalo graze in the safety of the park.

Bison can be hunted in one of two ways: a permit hunt or a roster hunt. Under the permit hunts, tags will be distributed like the other trophy species are with the exception that Montana does not utilize bonus points for bison and the drawing is entirely random. Roster hunts are used for additional population control during years of heavy migration; applicants who apply for a second choice roster hunt will be randomly drawn and assigned a number, but are not guaranteed a tag. If and when the decision has been made to take additional buffalo over the permit quota, hunters will be called off the roster in an ascending order starting with the number one position.

During periods of the bison hunt, there may also be state tribal members taking part in a treaty hunt. These tribal members can, at times, hunt in areas otherwise closed to permit holders and there is no quota cap for tribal members. The quotas set forth by MFWP do not include any animals taken by state tribal members though bison taken during treaty hunts can dictate closures and possible sanctions imposed on permit holder hunts.

Current Herd Condition

Overall, the total health of the YNP Bison herd is doing very well and above objective for the park. Recently, park officials culled 1,155 bison as part of their annual population control efforts. Predation from wolves and bears along calving grounds is still present though this is part of the natural cycle and something the bison have been dealing with, and overcoming, for years. Brucellosis continues to be a growing concern and has further created a rift between local ranchers and conservation efforts outside of the park. Brucellosis among bison is thought to infect over 50% of the population in YNP.

*MFWP has not updated harvest data since 2015

2018 Bison Hunt Districts for Residents and Nonresidents

Every year the available districts for nonresidents to apply for bison will change, meaning that the district you apply for this year may or may not be available to apply for the following year. This means that it is incredibly important to pay attention when applying for a district that is currently closed to nonresident applicants. If a nonresident applies for a closed district, it will result in an ineligible application.

How to Uncover Hidden Gem Bison Areas

Due to the simple fact that there are only three hunting districts for residents and two for nonresidents anyone researching this hunt will not find any hidden gem areas. Trophy potentials in all of the districts are fairly equal with opportunities at bigger bulls being heavily reliant on timing and migration levels.

* MFWP has not updated application totals since 2015** Does not include tags awarded to Montana tribal members

B&c Entry Trends for Montana Bison

While drawing a permit for any one of the two bison hunting districts does not necessarily guarantee a chance at a bigger bull, there have been more record book animals since 2010 taken out of the Gardiner (HD 385) districts at eleven animals than the West Yellowstone (HD 395) district at two animals.

Hunting Districts listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Districts in this table are considered if any part of the district is found within any part of the county. Data provided below courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Managing Points and Expectations

Which District Do I Apply For?

With Montana utilizing a strict lottery system for bison your odds of ever drawing a tag will never get better; however, they will also never get worse. The best strategy here is to simply pick a district and begin applying. The odds are long for both residents and nonresidents alike, but, with the current drawing system, you could draw a tag at any time.

Find your resident bison draw odds here

Find your nonresident bison draw odds here