2025 Montana alternate draw question

[Mikman46]

Hey everyone, been following and researching this site for quite some time now. Wanted to ask a few questions. I’ll preface this with a brief synopsis. 7 of us are coming out there to hunt, one party of 3 drew a BGC tag. The other party of 4 did not draw :/ (even with an average of 2 PP). We are planning and have lodging booked in NW Montana (yes we like a hard hunt, I’ve been monitoring the critter numbers from fwp and have been there before), furthermore we are planning on entering the alternate draw. Here in lies my question.

Anyone willing to respond, give me some insight or experience on 4 of us entering the alternate ? And approx dates on when we would get notified on tags ?, pending a lowish number of course.

“Dead or dark”

 

[cmak]

Everything you want to know is on the FWP website. Do your own work.

 

[Mikman46]

Everything you want to know is on the FWP website. Do your own work.

I understand it must be tempting to not read the entire post I put up. I was simply asking for insight and or experience on entering the alternate. If the fwp website (which I’ve scoured) offered an adequate amount of insight or experience I wouldn’t have posted on this forum. Thanks for the insight

 

[ndbuck09]

Everything you want to know is on the FWP website. Do your own work.

There's a lot more going on in the background than FWP puts on their website.

 

[Erict]

FNG - you just signed up to this site this evening and are looking for the easy button. My advice is to use the "Search" for "alternate list" and spend some time reading. Combine that with what you learn on the fairly useful MT FWP site and you should have few remaining questions.

Your odds and dates are completely dependent on what positions you land on the list. I would plan on bringing a good wolf/coyote rifle or small game gun along if I were you.

 

[Mikman46]

Ok understood, so I was asking for experience which can not be quantified by data. Which I already read through 12 pages of the 2024 alternate list and marked anyone’s numbers down and dates in which they were afforded an opportunity to buy a tag. How is asking a question for insight or experience the easy button. I understand you get assigned a number on the list etc. I’m looking for experience from people who have been successful and unsuccessful on the alternate list regarding the bgc license.

Furthermore I can still research on this site without signing up, never felt the need to post on here until I was seeking, as above stated experience or insight.

 

[yoopshoot]

I’ve been selected both times I entered the alternate list. First in 2020- I was like #450ish and received a tag the first week of September . Last year I also jumped on the list and was around #500 if I recall correctly. I was notified of an available tag mid November . ( Didn’t accept the tag)

So quite a bit different outcomes . I personally wouldn’t bank on getting a tag in a timely manner unless you are sub-100. Even then it seems those tags are getting later than they were a few years ago.

This is obviously a small snippet, but my experience with the alternate list. Good luck !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mikman46]

Hey thank you very much !

 

[Recurve Man]

I’ll give ya my experience with it and not chastise ya. I few years ago I was #43 on list and had a tag by archery “ which is the only way I hunt”. Last year was 1254 and never heard a word. From what I’ve seen the last few years there are fewer and fewer tags turned back in. 5 years ago if you were less than 250 you were almost guaranteed a tag. Who knows now days. Plus you will be competing against me this year as well. I didn’t draw either. Lol


Good luck


Shane

 

[Mikman46]

Shane! Thanks a lot and best of luck to ya. I spoke with FWP licensing over the phone and they were awesome. She told me that anything sub 300 last year got called somewhat quickly for the BGC license. Shoot straight this year.

 

[josef]

I got a tag at #440 a 2 years ago.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

In my experience even sub 100 you might not get the call by archery opener. I’ve been called as late as mid November. I think less people are returning tags and they give you too long to accept, think 5-7 days, which drags it out a bit as well.

 

[Trapper330]

Yeah, that's getting to be more and more common on these sites! Don't you dare ask a question! You're a non resident, how dare you! SMH. Good Luck to you! My son and I drew general BGC tags, but doubt I'll seek any advice on the web!

 

[Riplip]

Yeah, that's getting to be more and more common on these sites! Don't you dare ask a question! You're a non resident, how dare you! SMH. Good Luck to you! My son and I drew general BGC tags, but doubt I'll seek any advice on the web!

Not at all what he was referencing. All he was saying was that if the OP spent a little time and effort he would have found the information he was seeking as it has been discussed before and it is readily available on the MT FWP site.

If you have spent any time on this site, you would realize that every year about this time new people join to only ask questions or get information on a tag they just drew. They generally disappear immediately after getting the information and never become a contributing member of this forum, which is why it was started in the first place. Those of us who actually contribute kind of get sick of this after a while.

 

[Trapper330]

Not at all what he was referencing. All he was saying was that if the OP spent a little time and effort he would have found the information he was seeking as it has been discussed before and it is readily available on the MT FWP site.

If you have spent any time on this site, you would realize that every year about this time new people join to only ask questions or get information on a tag they just drew. They generally disappear immediately after getting the information and never become a contributing member of this forum, which is why it was started in the first place. Those of us who actually contribute kind of get sick of this after a while.

OK, I can take that. Just seems there's alot of what I was referencing on these sites, and I just happened to be on this one and just finished telling a guy how a hunt went for me in another state. Sorry that I blew up. Now can you tell me where to find a bull in MT in a general area? LOL. Thanks.

 

[Riplip]

No worries, didn't think you blew up I was just offering my opinion on the matter.

I drew my MT tag last year and had some great success, but it was in an limited entry unit. I have seen some great elk in general areas of Montana, unfortunately there were a lot of grizzlies as well. Not my thing.

 

[Trapper330]

No worries, didn't think you blew up I was just offering my opinion on the matter.

I drew my MT tag last year and had some great success, but it was in an limited entry unit. I have seen some great elk in general areas of Montana, unfortunately there were a lot of grizzlies as well. Not my thing.

Yeah, I'll be packing a side arm! we've hunted deer on the east side a handfull of times, but this will be a first time for elk and after the last time for deer, I'm quite fearful on what to expect for pressure? There's just so many trucks, camps, people. Guess we'll find out!?

 

[Mikman46]

Not at all what he was referencing. All he was saying was that if the OP spent a little time and effort he would have found the information he was seeking as it has been discussed before and it is readily available on the MT FWP site.

If you have spent any time on this site, you would realize that every year about this time new people join to only ask questions or get information on a tag they just drew. They generally disappear immediately after getting the information and never become a contributing member of this forum, which is why it was started in the first place. Those of us who actually contribute kind of get sick of this after a while.

I can respect that, although it is a public forum in which I have been scouring. I was simply looking to gauge the experience of others. The FWP site is maintained by the government and being employed by such an entity I fully understand how there is zero experience portrayed in the explanation of the alternate lists and drawings. I also can respect that NR coming out of nowhere and posting on here, I can’t say I would feel any different. I am however a great steward of any area in recreating in and respect that it’s your stomping ground. I however do love the area we have been going too and look forward to trips like these.

 

[ericthered]

OP you're good. I don't care if you post once. Hope the forum family here is helpful and you'll refer your friends here. I've use this site often to help with decision - the biggest help was with my two outfitters - one in Alaska and the other in NWT. Hunts couldn't have gone better. But if you're a one and done poster - no skin off my nose. I drew a MT alt BGC tag in 2020 from like position 380. Got the tag 2nd week of Nov which worked out okay as I was hunting Thanksgiving week.