Montana preference point system question

[Jaegerr]

Application strategy question

Pulled an elk general this year and was fortunate to harvest a bull, so I know I’m 2 years from drawings again more than likely.

The deer combo has a 50/50 chance roughly with 1 point to draw based of this years draw odds. This got me thinking about applying in 2026 and buying a point (I have no preference points currently). My dilemma is I know I can’t apply for elk and deer separately, but can I simply buy an elk preference point later in 2026 and apply in 2027?

If I do the above and I lose and don’t draw a deer tag in 2026, I would lose my deer preference point in 2027 if I applied for just the elk combo since I can’t apply separately?

Trying to secure a mule deer hunt next year but I do not have any point in any state at the moment as I am youngish and starting to get my feet wet western hunting. Trying to secure a hunt next year!

 

[Erict]

Read THIS

No such thing as deer or elk preference points - they are nonresident combination license PPs.

You either buy a point with your combo license application or buy a point later in the year, but not both.

 

[Jaegerr]

Read THIS

No such thing as deer or elk preference points - they are nonresident combination license PPs.

You either buy a point with your combo license application or buy a point later in the year, but not both.

Yeah I’m dumb now that I re-read the rules. I was focused solely on elk and so I thought it would be different. Thanks for the info!

 

[Scottf270]

With the recent reduction of approximately 2,500 non resident deer tags, it may well take 3 years to draw a deer tag unless applications drop.

We have drawn a deer tag the last 3 years with one point with less than 50% odds.
Im already looking elsewhere this year.

 

[Jaegerr]

With the recent reduction of approximately 2,500 non resident deer tags, it may well take 3 years to draw a deer tag unless applications drop.

We have drawn a deer tag the last 3 years with one point with less than 50% odds.
Im already looking elsewhere this year.

Any good options you’ve found?

 

[Duckman18]

So I’ve never put in and going to be trying to put in next year for a deer combo. Should I buy a preference point now or put in next year with zero?

 

[Jaegerr]

So I’ve never put in and going to be trying to put in next year for a deer combo. Should I buy a preference point now or put in next year with zero?

Buy a point now (deadline is December 31st so tomorrow) and then you can also buy a point when you apply next year. You should have a pretty good chance with 2 points.
If you apply with zero, you can’t buy any preference points at the end of next year if you don’t draw.
If you don’t buy one in the draw, you can’t then buy one in the winter during the preference point only period.
No free lunch as anything with life. You either commit to the luck of the draw every year with zero and maybe you get more tags, or you get a tag just about every other year with preference points. Just depends on whether Montana is where you want to hunt or if it’s just a back up. Is Montana your primary target?

 

[Duckman18]

Just trying for Montana next few years.

 

[Jaegerr]

Just trying for Montana next few years.

Then hopefully you bought a preference point, buy another one when you apply for 2026 and you should have a good chance of drawing 2026. I would personally suggest picking either the Elk combo or Deer combo. The big game combo almost always seems to have a higher point requirement, but to each their own.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Can someone explain why 1 PP holders are 0% draw? I am not understanding the intent. Seems like a strategy to sit on the sidelines. So you buy your 1 PP in 2025 and apply for 2026 draw => 2 PP. Or you apply for the 2026 draw with 0 PP for best odds.

 

[realunlucky]

Can someone explain why 1 PP holders are 0% draw? I am not understanding the intent.

View attachment 996790

Because it's a modified preference point system, where tags are handed out to those with the most points first and there are no tags left for those with 1 point.

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[ReaptheHeat]

Because it's a preference point system, where tags are handed out to those with the most points first

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Still not tracking. Why would 0 PP have 52.84% draw odds?

Or if I recall, 25% are handed out to 0 PP holders and then the last 75% divided up? May have answered my own question. I guess it still begs the question why you would not just apply with 0 PP or go in with 2 PP. What a weird system.

 

[realunlucky]

Still not tracking. Why would 0 PP have 52.84% draw odds?

Or if I recall, 25% are handed out to 0 PP holders and then the last 75% divided up? May have answered my own question...

Because montana legislature has set aside tags especially for people applying for the first time which they identify as those who have zero points.

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[ez_willie]

Still not tracking. Why would 0 PP have 52.84% draw odds?

Or if I recall, 25% are handed out to 0 PP holders and then the last 75% divided up? May have answered my own question. I guess it still begs the question why you would not just apply with 0 PP or go in with 2 PP. What a weird system.

Same reason dozens of us drew with 1.5. PP this year. The sooner you quit trying to understand MT and how they run their system the better off you will be haha

 

[Erict]

Still not tracking. Why would 0 PP have 52.84% draw odds?

Or if I recall, 25% are handed out to 0 PP holders and then the last 75% divided up? May have answered my own question. I guess it still begs the question why you would not just apply with 0 PP or go in with 2 PP. What a weird system.

Well, at some point you have to be at 1 PP. Some NR just don't do the homework to see that, at least through 2025, it's money down the drain to apply with 1 PP.

Many NR have looked at the stats and are now opting to save money by not purchasing a $100 PP and going in to the draw with 0 PP. If they draw, great, if not, FWP collects a bunch of fees and send a partial refund. As the number of "cheapskates" increases, their odds will come down. Applying with 0 PP is never a guaranteed draw.

The only time applying with 1 PP make sense is if one had 1 PP before the application period AND didn't want to lose that $100 PP. It will cost them fees, but this allows them to go in to the following year draw with 1 PP, then buy 1 PP at time of application for a total of 2 PP. Applying with 2 or more PP is almost always a guaranteed draw.

I know this is the Elk forum, but know that the PP odds differ when looking at the Deer Combo.

 

[Westslope406]

Good info here, lived here forever but always nice to hear other explanations.

 

[CarterHunt]

In the minority here but I love Montana’s preference point system for general tags. It’s confusing but you can bank on regularly hunting if you buy the points - and you can also have decent odds at drawing with zero points if you wish to play that game.