State Information

Montana snow water equivalent as of March 01, 2021. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

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Montana snow water equivalent as of March 30, 2020. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

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The Montana Draw System

Montana's 2021 rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

Montana's 2021 shiras Moose Breakdown

Montana's 2021 rocky Mountain Goat Breakdown

Montana's 2021 bison Breakdown

Montana's 2021 bighorn Sheep, Moose, Mountain Goat and Bison Application Overview

The application deadline for Montana moose, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat and bison is May 1, 2021 at 11:45 p.m MST. The application process is done completely online here or in any Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (Montana FWP) office.

Before applying, hopeful applicants are encouraged to look over the trophy species application worksheet, which can be found here for residents and here for nonresidents. The list of available hunt codes for each species that nonresidents can apply for changes every year. A detailed breakdown of 2021 hunt choices can be found in each of the species sections.

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. You can also view the Species Profiles to access historical and statistical data to help you find trophy areas.

Important Dates and Information

Current Weather/snowpack

2021

Montana snow water equivalent as of March 01, 2021. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

2020

Montana snow water equivalent as of March 30, 2020. Source: National Resources Conservation Service

Understanding the Draw

It is important to understand the draw system before you begin. You can find a complete explanation of the drawing 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

Montana grants nonresidents up to 10% of a district’s tag quota; however, the 10% is not guaranteed. Some years, the nonresident applicant pool will fill the entire 10% cap and other years it can be significantly less.

Points Only Option

If applicants are simply looking to build points for the current year — both preference and bonus — they can skip the expensive application prerequisites. Bonus points can be purchased between July 1 and Sept. 30 for $75 per species.

Bison Hunts

Unlike moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat, the bison permits in Montana do not use a point system and are distributed entirely through a random draw.

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 become 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 following year. Once a tag is successfully drawn, the applicant forfeits their 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.

Rotating Season Schedule and Nonresident Draw Odds

The list of hunts available for nonresidents to apply for changes every year for Montana moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat. Some units will be available year after year, primarily those with high tag numbers, but it is entirely possible for an applicant to apply for a hunt this year and have it not be an option the next. This small caveat can turn into a big deal and hunters will need to be acutely aware of these changes. A detailed breakdown of available hunts for 2021 is provided in the respective species breakdowns below.

Because of this rotation, there will be years where gaps of draw odds data will be present for nonresident applicants. When researching for the upcoming application, you may notice errors on some hunts that states “This hunt does not have odds available for your selected residency.” This is simply indicating that this particular hunt was not available to nonresidents during the previous draw cycle.

When it comes to trophy species in Montana, none is more highly regarded or dreamed about than the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Montana has long since been known as the king of giant rams and is currently sitting atop the Boone and Crockett (B&C) ranking sheet for the largest ram in the world. As with all other bighorn sheep states, the odds on the hunts are dismally steep, but with Montana’s draw system, there is always a chance of drawing a permit. Additionally, for those with an impatient attitude and an appetite for adventure, Montana offers five hunting districts with over-the-counter (OTC) bighorn sheep permits. These unlimited districts are considered among the hardest tags in the lower 48 to fill and hunters will be met with impossibly rugged country, brutal hunting conditions and low bighorn sheep numbers. The payoff? The adventure and trophy of a lifetime.

Current Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Herd Condition

The herd condition for bighorn sheep in Montana is great after a rough patch over the last few years due to pneumonia. While the risk for the disease is still high, Montana FWP has been very proactive in taking measures to prevent this. The winter of 2020-21 has been fairly normal by comparison and herds should be in for a healthy spring.

Montana’s Unlimited Bighorn Sheep Hunting Districts

A common thread of discussion around social media and hunting forums is the unlimited districts (300, 303, 500, 501, 502) in Montana. These five districts give out an unlimited amount of tags every year and the hunts are conducted on a quota system. Once a harvest quota for a certain unit is met the unit will close to all bighorn sheep hunting 48 hours later. During the 48-hour period, hunters are still allowed to hunt and harvest bighorn sheep and some units do occasionally see a higher actual harvest than what the quota called for.

While these hunts sound like a dream come true it is important to remember that these tags are often considered some of the hardest to fill in North America. The country is enormous, extremely remote and bighorn sheep densities are low. Generally, trophy potentials are also low (140” to 160”), but rams nearing the 180” mark can and have been killed.

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.

2021 nonresident Bighorn Sheep Districts

Every year, the available districts for nonresidents to apply for bighorn sheep will change, which means that the district you apply for this year may or may not be available to apply for the following year.

Selecting your Unit of Choice

When it comes to building your application strategy for Montana bighorn sheep, there is really only one secret: there isn’t one. Montana is such a high profile state for bighorn sheep and odds for every hunt at every point level are drastically stacked against you. Still, with Montana’s straightforward draw system, there is always a sliver of hope in pulling a permit.

The biggest rams in the state have most consistently been found in the units in and around the Missouri River Breaks (482, 620, 622 and 680). These units generally see the most applicants and the lowest odds, but they do offer the most permits for both residents and nonresidents.

Managing Points and Expectations

Really, when it comes to applying for bighorn sheep, the unfortunate truth is that even with maximum points the odds are still incredibly steep with less than 2% to 3% separating all of the units. When beginning your application strategy for Montana, your best bet is to simply pick a unit to your liking and just keep rolling the dice every year. With Montana running a modified lottery system, there is always an opportunity to draw.

Nonresidents will need to pay special attention from year to year as the list of available units is rotated. The unit you applied for in 2020 may not be available in 2021.

Find your resident Rocky bighorn draw odds here

Find your nonresident Rocky bighorn draw odds here

Montana has long stood as one of the better Shiras states of the West although populations have been on a slight decline in recent years. As with other moose tags in the West, draw odds are incredibly steep; however, anyone lucky enough to draw a tag will be in for the hunt of a lifetime

Current Moose Herd Condition

Moose populations, particularly those on the extreme west side of the state, have seen some declines in the past few years. The declines have largely been blamed on wolves and ticks; however, biologists all across the western states are continuing to investigate this. In general, Montana moose should see more of the “norm” for 2021 and anyone with a tag will be in for a good hunt.

2021 nonresident Shiras Moose Hunt Districts

Every year, the available districts for nonresidents to apply for moose will change, which means that the district you apply for this year may or may not be available to apply for the following year.

Finding Hidden Gem Hds

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

Managing Points and Expectations

When it comes to applying for moose in Montana, applicants won’t see a lot of hope at low point levels. However, once an applicant reaches the 10+ point level, a few hunts will begin to jump out with better odds. When beginning your application strategy for Montana, the best bet is to simply pick a unit to your liking and just keep rolling the dice every year. With Montana running a modified lottery system, there is always an opportunity to draw.

Nonresidents will need to pay special attention from year to year as the list of available units is rotated. The unit you applied for in 2020 may not be available in 2021.

Find your resident moose draw odds here

Find your nonresident moose draw odds here

This is, perhaps, one of the most adventure-inducing hunts in the West. Rocky Mountain goats live in some of the roughest country in Montana. Some hunts can provide easier access into goat habitat while others will provide a far more in-depth backcountry experience. Draw odds for mountain goats tend to be slightly higher than for moose and bighorn sheep, but hunters will still definitely be in for a potentially long wait.

*Montana FWP did not collect any individual data for billy and nanny harvest for this year.

Current Mountain Goat Herd Condition

As can be observed in the table below, permit quotas for Rocky Mountain goats in Montana have been on a steady decline in recent years. While nothing has been officially stated as 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 goats are major factors. Even with lower tag numbers — and lower draw odds — anyone holding a tag in 2021 will be in for a great hunt.

2021 nonresident Mountain Goat Hunt Districts

Every year, the available districts for nonresidents to apply for mountain goat will change, which means that the district you apply for this year may or may not be available to apply for the following year.

The GOHUNT Hitlist for Montana Rocky Mountain Goat

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

Managing Points and Expectations

Draw odds for residents are great once they get around the 10-point level and up. Nonresidents will still struggle even at maximum points, but odds here are still competitive with any other western state. Generally speaking, the best odds will be found in the districts handing out the most tags (313, 314, 316, 323 and 329) and these can be great routes for lower point holders to consider. When beginning your application strategy for Montana, your best bet is to simply pick a unit to your liking and just keep rolling the dice every year. With Montana running a modified lottery system, there is always an opportunity to draw.

Nonresidents will need to pay special attention from year to year as the list of available units is rotated. The unit you applied for in 2020 may not be available in 2021.

Find your resident mountain goat draw odds here

Find your nonresident mountain goat draw odds here

Bison is one of the more unique opportunities in Montana. The bison hunt is centered around herds from Yellowstone National Park that migrate outside of the park boundaries during the winter months. Because hunters are so heavily reliant on the bison leaving park boundaries, the weather is the biggest controlling factor for harvest success. During periods of light snow, very few bison will leave the park and, consequently, very few hunters will be given any opportunity.

Bison tags can be obtained in one of two ways: a permit tag or a roster hunt. With the permit, hunt tags will be distributed through a drawing like all of the other species in Montana. One caveat to bison is that there are no bonus points available for the species and all of the drawings are conducted through an entirely random lottery. Roster hunts are used primarily for population control during years where a heavy migration is occurring. After selecting a permit to apply for, hunters will be given the opportunity to also apply for a roster hunt. Hunters applying for a roster position will be assigned a random number and then placed into numerical order. When an excess amount of bison have left Yellowstone National Park, Montana FWP will begin calling hunters from the roster, starting with the number one position and so forth for each hunter’s opportunity.

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 Montana FWP 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 Bison Herd Condition

Bison herds continue to do very well in this area with officials within Yellowstone conducting roundups yearly to reduce animal numbers. 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 the park although there has never been a recorded case where the disease was spread to domestic cattle from bison.

Montana Bison Hunt District Breakdown

With three hunt options for residents and two for nonresidents, hunters will not find any overlooked or hidden gem areas. Instead, hunters need to simply hope the random lottery system works in their favor and that their name is pulled out of the hat first.

Managing Points and Expectations

Which District Do I Apply For?

With Montana utilizing a strict lottery system for bison, your odds of 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