MT Special Permit Application Research

[treillw]

How do you research where to apply for special permits in MT? (Moose, Sheep, Goat, Trophy Elk, Trophy Deer)

It's hard to know which units have the biggest trophies and which are your best chance of drawing. Figuring out the draw odds is pretty straight forward with sites like gohunt, although I'm not sure if they have "MSG" odds on there. I know they have trophy potential stuff as well, but it seems pretty general.

How do you tell the difference between two adjacent units that both have similar draw odds?

How do you know where the biggest whitetails in the state are without somebody telling you? (for example)

PMs work too if you don't want to tell the entire world your secrets

 

[BuzzH]

You can look up the MSG odds in the regulations as well as the MTFWP website. The website gives a bit more detail with breakdowns on what point pools the tags were drawn in. Its all over the map, but in general, 75% of the tags fall in the upper part of the point pools. Its tough to predict with the squared bonus point deal that Montana does.

Another source to find out where the bigger elk, deer, pronghorn etc. come from is to stroll through a few B&C record books. Certain counties tend to show up more than others. Things change a bit, like in the 80's-early 90's upper rock creek was dominating the sheep records in Montana. Now its the breaks units, 622, 680, 482. Just keep in mind that in some cases, just because in the past some great animals were taken in a certain area, doesn't mean they are going to be available now. Using upper rock creek sheep as an example, IMO, we will never see anything again in that unit like the quality of rams in the late 80's-mid-90's. That ship sailed and isn't coming back.

Of course there's also the old fashioned way to find out and that's get off the couch and go look for yourself...my preferred method.

 

[Selway]

Boots on the ground... it's the only way to know for sure. The rest is all hearsay.