Official 2026 Montana Draw Thread

[bpug15]

My group of 2 drew the general elk tag with 2 points. Been applying for 3 years.(didn't realize you had to keep applying after I bought my first preference point).

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

Were you going to hunt private or public?

Public.

 

[TradLife406]

Good luck. I was hoping to draw that permit as well with 12 bonus points as a NR, but no dice.

Had it last year. It was the hardest hunt I've ever done.

My advice is shoot the first 320" bull you see.

I thought I'd see elk every day and several elk. It ended up being a random sighting once every two to three days.

The 60 mph winds didn't help either.

To add context that's hard glassing from morning till just about dark.

I passed a 330" on day four because I still had the entire month of November to hunt. Stupid.

Finally got to the point where it was shoot the next bull I could find or eat the tag.

Finally shot a sub compact 7x7 at 905 yards with the 6 UM. The only time the wind was dead calm.

A bigger bull would have been nice. But dang the adventure was epic.

Don't believe the lies about big mulies in there either. Biggest buck I found was 140". He went home with me.

Don't bother with shonkin. Unless you want combat shoulder to shoulder hunting. Did that opener and it was a joke.

Also be ready to haul water if you're backpacking in. The stock tanks are dry in November. And if you're around Great Falls the best bet is use that area for training hikes. It's so stupidly steep. It's not hard to lose 500' in elevation in a few hundred yards.

I'd also suggest having horses lined up if you kill. Only way I'd have gotten my bull out. About 4.5 miles in. Had a buddy on speed dial.

 

[TradLife406]

Got a 447-20 for my first elk tag should be a good time.

This will be your first elk hunt ever??? Oh boy! DM me. Because you're in for an absolute ass kicker of a hunt! You skipped freshmen and went straight to varsity. Skipped the side quests and went right to the final boss fight

 

[makinmeat]

Received my refund in the mail yesterday. this is twice in the last 8 years I have gambled on the zero point draw and lost.

 

[WI Shedhead]

Same as above in WISCO but first time getting denied

 

[Weedis]

5 of us from MN applied as a group and got our general big game tags, using no PP. This will be my second time hunting Montana, first with a bow. Going early September, pretty excited.

 

[Jkuhn22]

Refund check received today in Ohio. I have drawn Montana 4/5 times. First refund check…..now on the alternative list.

 

[goodolehunt]

Got my refund check in the mail the other day. Seems like they’re moving quicker than previous years. Now let’s hope i can give them back the money with an alternate list tag

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Here were the updated odds…

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Can you post the link for that to their website? I can't find it.

 

[Cohunter22]

Can you post the link for that to their website? I can't find it.

https://myfwp.mt.gov/getRepositoryFile?objectID=116132

Pretty big drop for 2pts from 2025. Was luckier than I thought to draw apparently.


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[TAGPUNCHER]

Just got my tags in mail. Now the wait....

 

[BRTreedogs]

I think it’s really stupid they will print your tags and mail them, but not your license.

They want to force everyone to e tag to save money and track us.

I’ll pay to have my tags printed if they need to save money.

Computers & printers are not readily available to me.

 

[Tjdeerslayer37]

I think it’s really stupid they will print your tags and mail them, but not your license.

They want to force everyone to e tag to save money and track us.

I’ll pay to have my tags printed if they need to save money.

Computers & printers are not readily available to me.

My license was mailed with my kill tag

 

[BRTreedogs]

My license was mailed with my kill tag

Are you sure?
Maybe I’m mistaken and your not required to have in your possession the other sheet they email you.

Yes it says big game combo license, but the other sheet they emailed me with my name, date of birth, conservation license etc was not included.

 

[Tjdeerslayer37]

Are you sure?
Maybe I’m mistaken and your not required to have in your possession the other sheet they email you.

Yes it says big game combo license, but the other sheet they emailed me with my name, date of birth, conservation license etc was not included.

yes mine was all on one sheet of paper, first 1/3rd was the conservation license and such, the second 1/3rd was the elk combo license

 

[Hasslehoff]

I drew my first elk permit, 217-10. Now to scouting.

 

[Alpine406]

Ah, the sweet feeling of not drawing. Again. This is year 23 for me for MGS as an MT resident. Good luck to those who pulled the rabbit out of the hat.

 

[BRTreedogs]

yes mine was all on one sheet of paper, first 1/3rd was the conservation license and such, the second 1/3rd was the elk combo license

So you don’t have to print and carry the one emailed when you applied, that says fishing license, upland, conservation, bow & arrow license etc?

I think what they mail you is just the conservation license & you need this other sheet as well.
I can screenshot it, but I’d have to blank half of it out.

 

[Tjdeerslayer37]

So you don’t have to print and carry the one emailed when you applied, that says fishing license, upland, conservation, bow & arrow license etc?

I think what they mail you is just the conservation license & you need this other sheet as well.
I can screenshot it, but I’d have to blank half of it out.

This seems to have all the same stuff the emailed one has for me. Afaik this is all that is required to be carried afield