goHUNT INSIDER member, Bryce Miller with a great general season Montana mule deer. Photo credit: Brady Miller

Montana's 2016 leftover nonresident hunting licenses are now available on a first-come-first-serve basis. You can pick up a license over-the-counter, but you should act fast before they sell out!

Archery hunters will enjoy a six week season that includes the elk rut and rifle hunters will see a five week season that includes the mule deer rut. So you get the best of both worlds when you pick up a combo license for both species. If you want some additional insight you can check out our 2016 Montana deer and elk application strategy article.

How to get your leftover nonresident Montana tag

The easiest way to pick up a license is to buy one online or purchase one at any Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) office.

Cost to pick up a leftover tag

• Big Game Combination license cost is $996 (deer and elk tag)
• Elk Combination license cost is $846 (elk only)
• Deer Combination license cost is $592 (deer only)

Continued below.

Urgency is required

If you want to hunt in Montana during the 2016 season, now is the time to get your plans together. Licenses are already going fast. 

Current general leftover nonresident license totals*

• Big Game Combos: 0. Opening day total was: 445.
• Elk Combos: 0. Opening day total was: 1,963
• Deer Combos: 0

Current Come Home to Hunt leftover combination licenses**

• Big Game Combos: 330
• Deer Combos: 428

You can also check out the updated totals here.

Don't get discouraged... keep checking for returns

This is the first year in a long time that Montana's nonresident deer combination licenses have sold out so fast. And from the initial looks of it, the general deer combo license might not have been a 100% draw during the earlier application period. I first checked the FWP page on Wednesday and the leftover deer combo was listed as zero. Last year I turned my general deer license back in during August and then later in the year decided I wanted to hunt Montana again after the deer combos were sold out. I got pretty lucky and refreshed the FWP website each week trying to find a returned license. I eventually picked one up so I could hunt with my family. Any returned combination licenses are added to the surplus number each Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. MST. So you must act fast if you want another shot at a deer tag in 2016.

I'll keep this article updated as the summer progresses. Best of luck to everyone in 2016.

Check the leftover tag status here