Official Montana 2023 Draw Thread!

[mountainman406]

Is the draw definitely next Friday at a certain time or does it vary?

It varies each year, even "the week of the 14th" can be taken as a very fluid timeline. They usually let us know the week of the draw as to which day it will be.

 

[bsnedeker]

I'm hoping I DON'T draw this year as my hunting time is going to be very limited... but I'm also too cheap to spend the extra money on just buying bonus points. If you aren't aware (this was something I learned this year) it costs a resident 2 dollars for a bonus point if you buy and apply by April 1, but if you wait until later in the year to just buy a point they are 15 bucks each!

I know, I can hear all you NRs feeling bad for me already!

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[blastro87]

Put in this year, group/party app with my cousin for deer combo... Im not holding my breath as our combined pp's put us at 1.5 and im pretty sure that will put us in no mans land for pulling a tag. Not sure what route we will go if we dont draw...Might try to get lucky on a leftover somewhere, otherwise OTC 3rd rifle in CO is our only option due to his schedule and im not completely sold on that option...but at least ill have all summer to decide on that one!

 

[jtevanMT]

A good friend from TX has 2 preference points so I hope he draws this year and can join us for an elk/deer hunt in MT. Long time friend and fishing partner, has never elk hunted before so it would be a lot of fun.

 

[jjarrell]

First time NR applicant from TX, going for General Elk with 0pp. Wondering if most new NRs assumed, like I did, that same-year odds were best going in with 0…and all my first time NR friends now have longer odds with that approach. Good luck to all.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Is it yet?

 

[Packer9037]

Is it yet?

My buddy just texted asking the same thing! Gonna be a long week

 

[Roughwater]

The only thing worse than whining about tags is people who use lol!!! Anyway the draw hasnt even happened yet and the thread is taking a turn. Theres other threads with plenty of bitching going on, use them

That's funny, LOL

 

[Roughwater]

Entered with a small group of 3. Two of us have 2 points and the third party only one point. I feel like our odds are pretty good but would be better if our third guy had 2 points as well. But if we don't draw I'll draw next year but am 73 now and things can get dicey year to year with health and life. So hopefully I can go while I still have both especially the life part.

 

[RELIANT]

Entered with a small group of 3. Two of us have 2 points and the third party only one point. I feel like our odds are pretty good but would be better if our third guy had 2 points as well. But if we don't draw I'll draw next year but am 73 now and things can get dicey year to year with health and life. So hopefully I can go while I still have both especially the life part.

If the three of you put in a party app your average will be below 2 points (1.6) and you likely won't draw. I'm betting even folks with 2 points will only have around a 90% chance to draw this year....

Our party last year had 1.6 points and didn't draw, this year we are going in with 2.25 points average so we should be guaranteed to draw a general big game combo...knock on wood.

 

[Riplip]

In with 2 PP's and 11 BP's - once again hoping for certain archery permit.
Good luck all.

 

[Roughwater]

If the three of you put in a party app your average will be below 2 points (1.6) and you likely won't draw. I'm betting even folks with 2 points will only have around a 90% chance to draw this year....

Our party last year had 1.6 points and didn't draw, this year we are going in with 2.25 points average so we should be guaranteed to draw a general big game combo...knock on wood.

If the three of you put in a party app your average will be below 2 points (1.6) and you likely won't draw. I'm betting even folks with 2 points will only have around a 90% chance to draw this year....

Our party last year had 1.6 points and didn't draw, this year we are going in with 2.25 points average so we should be guaranteed to draw a general big game combo...knock on wood.

Reliant,

I appreciate you taking the time to Reply to our groups situation. Actually I would be fine if we don't draw but I am thinking this isn't totally about the numbers and allows also for a element of luck so thinking we Could still draw. I put a lot of money into my boat this year and if we don't draw I'll just fish more this year and be highly likely to draw next year. The one bad thing about this draw thing is that if someone else wants into our group next year we could end up in a similar situation or be forced to drop out of the group to insure we get to hunt.

 

[bmart2622]

That's funny, LOL

I dont speak passive aggressive or smart ass so maybe you could tell us how many points you had and what youre hoping to draw

 

[RELIANT]

Reliant,

I appreciate you taking the time to Reply to our groups situation. Actually I would be fine if we don't draw but I am thinking this isn't totally about the numbers and allows also for a element of luck so thinking we Could still draw. I put a lot of money into my boat this year and if we don't draw I'll just fish more this year and be highly likely to draw next year. The one bad thing about this draw thing is that if someone else wants into our group next year we could end up in a similar situation or be forced to drop out of the group to insure we get to hunt.

I wish you luck...but I'm pretty sure the 25% random tags are set aside for those that do not have any preference points. Although I'm not exactly sure how FWP allocates general tags that are immediately turned in and redrawn for the NRs that drew a general tag, but failed to draw the special elk permit and elected to have the general tag refunded.

In Montana you can apply with up to 5 in a group, so if your party doesn't draw this year and want to make a go of it next year try to get everyone who wants in committed before the end of this year...if you have a new guy that wants to tag on get them to buy a point after this year's draw during the points only period (deadline will be December 31, 2023). That way any new comers can buy a point in December then buy their 2024 point during the application and your party wont be hindered too much.

Honestly extending the points only period this was probably the only good thing that came from FWP rule changes that they catered for MOGA....whoops almost forgot the rules of this thread

 

[AFHunter22]

Montana resident here and hoping I can pull my antelope buck tag with 5 points! Should be around 75% or better and I'd really like to luck out and snag a rifle breaks tag with 5 points! We'll see what happens and either way I'll be hunting general deer and elk! Best of luck to everyone in the draws!

 

[AFHunter22]

For those that are unaware, here is the link to allow you to search the website via spreadsheet. In the past, I've been able to see my drawing status through this method prior to it being available on my FWP account page. I'll throw this link in the initial post as well:

Excel Search: https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpExtPortal/searchHunters_input.action

I second this! Typically you can see your draws a few days before it is released to FWP profiles!

 

[Roughwater]

I dont speak passive aggressive or smart ass so maybe you could tell us how many points you had and what youre hoping to draw

I did post above to Reliant but I see I didn't make it clear that my group of 3 was hoping do draw the Elk combo tag. If you read that post you will see my group of 3 has an average of 1.7 (1.666 rounded off).
You kinda left yourself open with the LOL remark and I couldn't help myself. But I earned my occasional SA nature over 73 years so it's hard to quit now. That said I thought it might add a bit of humor all be it stupid humor. Nothing personal intended. We old fogies have used LOL since the days of AOL so it's part of our online language after all these years and we aren't really interested much in whats cool and not cool.

 

[ArcherAdam]

I applied for the general elk tag this year with my 1 point, knowing I likely won't draw and I was too cheap to lose my point.

I just wonder if enough NR hunters saw the western winter kill stories to keep applications down? Down enough to affect the points game. I guess we will find out next week!

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[BRTreedogs]

I applied for the general elk tag this year with my 1 point, knowing I likely won't draw and I was too cheap to lose my point.

I just wonder if enough NR hunters saw the western winter kill stories to keep applications down? Down enough to affect the points game. I guess we will find out next week!

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Isn't the CC fee you end up losing almost the cost of the point you would have lost?

 

[ArcherAdam]

It was like $40 I think however to replace that point it is now $100.

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