Montana Tag Confusion Help

[StopMakingSense]

Here's the thing, Montana gives 17,000 NR elk tags, it's law. As far as Big Game Combo and Elk Combo, they go down the list of requests Elk Combo and Big Game Combo until 17k tags have been given. Last year they gave...

13,688 Big Game Combo Tags
3,346 Elk Combo Tags

Applying for Big Game Combo or Elk Combo doesn't lessen nor increase your odds, it's the same pool for the 17,000 elk tags.

 

[realunlucky]

Here's the thing, Montana gives 17,000 NR elk tags, it's law. As far as Big Game Combo and Elk Combo, they go down the list of requests Elk Combo and Big Game Combo until 17k tags have been given. Last year they gave...

13,688 Big Game Combo Tags
3,346 Elk Combo Tags

Applying for Big Game Combo or Elk Combo doesn't lessen nor increase your odds, it's the same pool for the 17,000 elk tags.

Interesting I was always under the impression that deer was capped and big game combo pulled from that pool (deer). Bought deer points for nothing I guess

 

[StopMakingSense]

Deer only is a separate pool at 4,600

Montana is confusing and honestly, I could be wrong with what I've said with any of it, I'm not FWP and even then I've called them and gotten 3 different answers! I just like to be scrutinized on a public forum that is generally pretty knowledgable.

So here's the applications from last year, maybe everyone can help interpret this data differently?

Also here's the direct quote from FWP "A total of 17,000 Nonresident Big Game Combination licenses, and 4,600 Deer Combination licenses, are now available via a general application process."

 

[StopMakingSense]

Just posted it above, we must have been typing together. I double checked these numbers against FWP raw data.

 

[StopMakingSense]

I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure this out now, love that we can figure it out together

 

[Airborne1]

This is where i think they should watch what they say. (I get that they're "combination" because as NR you get base, AISPP, fishing and upland, but it is contradicted in other places)
"A total of 17,000 Nonresident Big Game Combination licenses...."
Big game combination license is the deer and elk and comes with all the other required stuff.
Elk combination you get all of the same stuff minus deer, so just elk.
So to say theres 17000 BIG GAME COMBINATIONS is confusing. Not all 17000 people will get a deer tag obviously.
There is 17000 elk licenses, this is all i know. Best odds to get a elk license is to simply stick to the Elk Combination, unless you want deer and have 1 PP.
Below is a cut from the regulations of what I mean. Pg 17, under General Elk License.

"Most Nonresidents cannot buy their
general elk license over the counter.
They must obtain a general elk license
through the drawing for one of the
17,000 Big Game Combination Licenses,
which is also good for fishing and upland
bird hunting, and may include deer if
specified in the application. Demand
is greater than supply, so to get an Elk
License, you need to apply in a random
lottery drawing by March 15."

This post has gotten out of hand! lol

 

[Airborne1]

Is the GoHunt screen shot you posted applicable to Nonresident numbers only? And to add confusion to it, you could ask, how many of those people were applying for that big game combo in a permitted unit? I guess it doesnt matter because you can still get that tag and it be good for a general unit if you don't draw a permit. Wheres RANDY NEWBURG??!!!

 

[StopMakingSense]

So I've got 1 PP for my combo this year, if I don't draw I'll be surprised. I put in for a party and told my buddy to come over when filling out his app. I told him to apply, he couldn't do it on his own before getting frustrated.

It is the most confusing non-resident state to apply in. I don't think the thread has gotten out of hand, I think FWP decided to make the most convoluted system for non-residents.

So if you add the NR Big Game Combo and Elk Combo you get 17,033 tags. So that takes our 17k tags, all good. My only guess then for the deer, but for deer you get a total of 8,980? Man I'm way more confused then I started.

 

[jmez]

The stats back up what you say.

If you have 2 tag pools, one with 4600 available and one with 12,400 available, you should have a better chance with just the elk tag. Even if they are just going down the line they are going to run out of the 4600 first.

 

[jmez]

You really want to be confused, go look at the draw PDF on the Montana Fish and Game Website.

 

[Airborne1]

You really want to be confused, go look at the draw PDF on the Montana Fish and Game Website.

I would if i could even find it! I love MT as a non resident don't get me wrong, I want to move there, but sheesh I would like to see this be a bit less confusing and be able to find some better statistics.

 

[jmez]

The last year that I applied in MT. I applied for the Big Game Combo and got a license. The Elk combo tags did not sell out that year and a third in our party purchased one in August over the counter.

There were several guys, based on what was posted here, that had also applied for the Big Game Combo and got no tag because the deer tags had sold out.

 

[jmez]

https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/drawingStatistics

 

[Airborne1]

I would if i could even find it!

https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/drawingStatistics

Ahh ok yeah I have seen those. I didnt pay much attention because I dont need a permit to where I am going, or the other options is its a 100% permit issue.

 

[StopMakingSense]

I don't know, I just buy 1 PP and draw every year, c'est la vie

 

[Airborne1]

I think from this point forward i will buy a $50 PP every year. Peace of mind.

 

[Riplip]

A few other items to consider.

-Even though the Big Game Combo sold out last year, there were approximately 800 leftover tags that became available in May because of applicants that did not draw their permits.

-PP purchased at time of applications are used for that draw, so if you have one PP going into this years draw and you purchase another at time of application you will have two points for the draw.

 

[jmez]

That chart does not make any sense?

Raw numbers, 17,000 elk tags for NR. 4600 of those tags will include a deer license. That would be 12,400 elk combo licences, 4,600 big game combos.

According to the chart they gave out 13,688 big game combo (deer and elk) and 3345 elk combo (elk only).

 

[jmez]

The regulations state this:

• Most nonresidents cannot buy their general deer license over the counter. They must obtain a general deer license through one of the following drawings: – Big game (deer and elk) combination license (17,000 issued), or a – Deer combination license (4,600 issued) [/QUOTE

When you look at the deer hunting licenses and permits:

Nonresidents may apply for only one combination license per year. Includes a Conservation, AISPP, Base Hunting, State Lands and General Deer license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. 4,600 licenses available.

Elk hunting licenses and permits:

Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a Conservation, State Lands, Base Hunting and General Elk license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. This license is included in the 17,000 quota of Big Game Elk/Deer Combination license.

There is no separate pool for NR deer only licenses.

 

[netman]

So upon getting my application filled out along with my credit card information I hit ‘submit ‘. I got a message saying there was a error and try again later. I would go through the information again and hit submit and getting the same ‘ error try again ‘.
I finally broke down and called their number. 1 3/4 hours on hold I spoke to a rep. I read the error message to him. He said your card is invalid or maxed out. I told him no way. I hollered at my wife and asked her if there was something up with the CC. She said yes it had been compromised. WTF. She said hang on .... So she finds the new one and I got the numbers punched in while I chatted with the rep. Bingo all is well. $1155.00