Didn't draw a tag this year? Here's your second chance at Montana with a walkthrough of the nonresident alternate list process
If you didn’t draw a nonresident big game combination, deer combination, or elk combination license in Montana and are looking for another option to hunt in this state, then the nonresident Alternate List is your last hope! Sign up for the Alternate List from May 1 through June 1, 2026, by 11:45 p.m. MT.
You can research all of the general deer and elk opportunities in Montana on our Filtering tool.
Each year, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks receives a number of unused nonresident combination licenses (big game, general elk, and general deer combination) that are returned. Montana then offers a chance at these returned licenses through their Alternate List.
You can select your choice of different nonresident combination licenses (big game combination, general elk, or general deer).
Note: You can only select one license option for the Alternate List.
Once the list registration closes, the list will be randomized, and if a license becomes available, the hunter at the top of the list will be contacted to finalize the purchase.
You can sign up for the Alternate List from May 1 through June 1 by 11:45 p.m. MT on your MyFWP account by clicking the link below and then logging in.
Click the button below to jump to the login section of MyFWP.
Then, you will need to enter your username or email and your account password and select the animal from the list to prove you're not a robot. Then click on "Login."
Once you are logged in, scroll down and click on "COMBINATION LICENSE ALTERNATE LIST AND SURPLUS LICENSE LISTS."
Select the type of combination license alternate list you want to register for. Each hunter may only register for one combination license list (big game combination, general elk, or general deer) on the alternate list.
After selecting which Alternate List combination license you want to apply for, click on "REGISTER FOR SELECTED LISTS."
And that's it!
Once the alternate list application deadline has closed on June 1, the list will be randomized to determine each hunter’s prioritization on these lists. Then, around mid-July, you can start tracking your number status by logging in to your MyFWP page.
When a license becomes available, the hunter with the lowest randomized number on the list will be emailed to finalize the purchase of the license, and so on until the returned nonresident combo licenses are eventually exhausted.
The odds of getting a license can change throughout the season. Hunters turning back in their tags for a refund and the state reissuing these deer combo licenses may occur at any time, but the volume of returned licenses normally increases before the general rifle hunting season kicks off in late October.
Over the years, I haven't seen a clear trend on which combination license is better to apply for in terms of how often they're turned back, but it seems the big game combination license was turned back more, possibly due to the total cost of that option.
Best of luck!
This article was originally published on June 5, 2024, and has been updated with more information.
Elk combination license: General elk, season fishing, upland bird, and base hunting.
Deer combination license: General deer, season fishing, upland bird, and base hunting.
Big game combination license: General deer, general elk, season fishing, upland bird, and base hunting.
Sign up for the Alternate List from May 1 through June 1, 2026, by 11:45 p.m. MT. You can sign up here on your MyFWP account.
Permit (special draw) licenses are not part of the alternate list—this is for general combinations (big game, elk, or deer) only.
When filling out your alternate list application, the day you register does not matter. You can register early, or you can register on the last day, and it will not impact your odds of being selected.
Payment for the license fee is not required at the time you sign up for the Alternate List.
If your name is selected, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the purchase of the license.
Drawing a tag or being on the list does not affect your existing nonresident preference points.
Party (group) applications are not accepted for the alternate list.
If you and a friend both want a tag, you would each have to sign up individually and hope your numbers are close to each other after they are randomized, and that both of you are offered a tag if they become available.
To apply for the alternate list, you did not have to apply in the general draw. Any nonresident can sign up.
The Alternate List will be randomized in mid-July. Then, you can log in to your MyFWP account and check out your number on the list.
Once the list is randomized and a license becomes available, the hunter at the top of the list will be contacted to finalize the license purchase.
