Official 2026 Montana Draw Thread

[mountainman406]

Hello again Everyone,

Welcome back for another year of applications here in Montana. Getting this thread going again so that we can all communicate our successes in the Montana draw system and clear up any confusion for non-residents with rules/regulations/general drawing processes. There are numerous changes from the previous license year so be sure to review the regs specific to your region/unit. If you're new to applying in the state, some links are included below with preference/bonus point information and ways that you can search for your results (draw is mid-April historically). Best of luck this year everyone, I'll have a couple polls up over the next few weeks if you care to participate. ***DEADLINE TO APPLY IS APRIL 1st***

Resources:
Bonus/Preference Point Info

Bonus Points | Montana FWP​

Bonus points increase your chances of drawing a permit or license.  Bonus points offer you additional chances in the drawing. Bonus points accumulate until you are successful in the drawing. You can only purchase one bonus point per license year for each type of permit or license. You can...

fwp.mt.gov

(quickest search method) Excel Search: https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpExtPortal/searchHunters_input.action
(standard search method) Drawing Lookup: https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpExtPortal/myDrawResult_input.action

 

[MTHunt’r]

Good luck to all hunters. If you’re successful and shoot an elk feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help you eat it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hobbes]

 

[JDZ]

I’m a non-resident and I currently have:
0 preference points for the combo license, and
5 bonus points for a permit.

If I apply for the non-resident combo license and buy a preference point at the time of application, I’ll have a 0% chance of obtaining the license. So, then I’ll have a 0% chance of even entering the draw for a permit.

But, if I choose to not participate in the non-resident preference points, and enter the draw with 0 preference, I’ll have approximately 50% chance of obtaining the license and entering the permit draw.

Is that correct? Can I choose not to buy a preference point, but choose to participate in bonus points? Then, in either scenario, if I don’t draw the permit, at least I’d gain a bonus point?

 

[OlderGobbler]

I’m a non-resident and I currently have:
0 preference points for the combo license, and
5 bonus points for a permit.

If I apply for the non-resident combo license and buy a preference point at the time of application, I’ll have a 0% chance of obtaining the license. So, then I’ll have a 0% chance of even entering the draw for a permit.

But, if I choose to not participate in the non-resident preference points, and enter the draw with 0 preference, I’ll have approximately 50% chance of obtaining the license and entering the permit draw.

Is that correct? Can I choose not to buy a preference point, but choose to participate in bonus points? Then, in either scenario, if I don’t draw the permit, at least I’d gain a bonus point?

Yes

 

[bow_dozer]

Native NR, got my general approved. We’ll see about draw. 14 points.

 

[mountainman406]

Get your tags in everyone, T minus 1 week to go until the window is closed!

 

[EastOfTreeline]

Nonresident archery hunter flipping the 0 point coin again this year. Didn’t know last year that I wouldn’t earn a point with a failed application (duh!) so we are back to square one. No elk permit app for us this year. Good luck everyone!

 

[CB4]

In with 2 points for the elk draw and hoping to get an archery permit in the breaks.

 

[NJFikkert]

Thought I would jump in here because due to a misunderstanding of the system I either had to try for a tag this year or lose my PP. So, I bought a PP (have two), put in for the elk combo and a then bought a bonus point (have 4) and applied breaks archery permit. We will see what happens. After a lot of research and a couple mistakes I think I have at least this part of the MT draw figured out. Will be my first MT elk hunt. Also, looks like MT is pretty quick with getting results out. That’s nice, allows for some last minute decisions in other states.

 

[mountainman406]

***Last day to get those applications in!***

 

[Ajsomp]

I put in for the combo last night with zero points. Hoping to hunt Montana this year as I’ve focused on Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico until now. Still going to apply to Colorado because my number one goal is a bull elk for this season.

 

[NJ-Hunting]

I'm also hoping for a breaks tag, I have my hopes too high just to have them shattered in a couple weeks.

 

[HouseCL]

If I bought a combo preference point last year, but don’t want to draw the tag this year, should I enter the draw today being that I would be unlikely to receive the tag but not lose my point from last year? It’s so annoying that they make you apply for the tag instead of just giving the option to buy the point

 

[JDZ]

If I bought a combo preference point last year, but don’t want to draw the tag this year, should I enter the draw today being that I would be unlikely to receive the tag but not lose my point from last year? It’s so annoying that they make you apply for the tag instead of just giving the option to buy the point

If you apply with one non resident preference point, and do not buy another, you have essentially 0% chance of drawing. I believe you’ll keep your point for next year because you applied.

 

[NJ-Hunting]

If I bought a combo preference point last year, but don’t want to draw the tag this year, should I enter the draw today being that I would be unlikely to receive the tag but not lose my point from last year? It’s so annoying that they make you apply for the tag instead of just giving the option to buy the point

Pretty sure you can just buy the point during the points only period. I think the deadline for preference point in montana is Dec 31 or something like that. But you can only buy the point in the points only period if you don't apply.

 

[JDZ]

Pretty sure you can just buy the point during the points only period. I think the deadline for preference point in montana is Dec 31 or something like that. But you can only buy the point in the points only period if you don't apply.

Except he’ll lose his current point if he doesn’t apply during the application period.

 

[NJ-Hunting]

Except he’ll lose his current point if he doesn’t apply during the application period.

okay, I thought the way it worked was you lost your points if you didn't apply OR buy a point in the points only period during the year.

 

[HouseCL]

okay, I thought the way it worked was you lost your points if you didn't apply OR buy a point in the points only period during the year.

No, if you skip the draw and wait to buy a point, you lose any points you previously accumulated. I know because this happened to me last year haha

 

[HouseCL]

If you apply with one non resident preference point, and do not buy another, you have essentially 0% chance of drawing. I believe you’ll keep your point for next year because you applied.

That was my thought process - thanks for confirming. Guess Montana is gonna get another $1200 or whatever from me, at least for a few months…