Official Montana 2025 Draw Thread

[Jaker_cc]

Wife and I both drew general tags

 

[Raghornkiller]

So I’m assuming there’s no way to get the 80% refund AND our points back? The issue is by buddy absolutely cannot go this year.

Edited to add: my buddy DID actually get a released tag as well, but he only had one point. We’re in a real pickle now.

You could call them and make the case that with a 1.5 average you should not have drawn.We were in the exact same situation two years ago when my wife applied with my brother in law so he would not draw.I know everyone is under the impression that parties get split up for the released tags and I was told that when i called in to FWP.But it makes no sense and I couldn't wrap my head around it when it happened to us so I kept calling and finally I was told that actually parties are not supposed to get split and they restored points and gave a 100 percent refund.So either its a stupid process and they intentionally split parties or everyone that gets split is a mistake in the drawing.

 

[Fowl Play]

Flipped the coin this year and lost. Wife’s happy though… so guess there’s a positive

 

[alecvg]

Drew a great LE elk tag last year with low odds. Put over 60 days into that hunt. Got lucky and drew a great deer LE tag this year with even lower sub 5% odds. I am truly shocked.

 

[schur7559]

You could call them and make the case that with a 1.5 average you should not have drawn.We were in the exact same situation two years ago when my wife applied with my brother in law so he would not draw.I know everyone is under the impression that parties get split up for the released tags and I was told that when i called in to FWP.But it makes no sense and I couldn't wrap my head around it when it happened to us so I kept calling and finally I was told that actually parties are not supposed to get split and they restored points and gave a 100 percent refund.So either its a stupid process and they intentionally split parties or everyone that gets split is a mistake in the drawing.

Thanks for the reply. I will try this, can’t hurt.

 

[Fowl Play]

Thanks for the reply. I will try this, can’t hurt.

While you’re at it, can you ask them to give me your tags

 

[mikeafeagin22]

Drew deer combo with one point. First time I get to hunt with my brothers in probably 25 years. I’m pretty excited

That’s awesome! What it’s all about

 

[Packer9037]

maybe a deer tag but not a combo unless apps are way way way down or more likely they messed up the draw .

There is a main draw that is based on preference points and a secondary draw for returned tags that is completely random. You can be awarded a tag in the secondary draw regardless of points. You also lose your points if you get a tag in the secondary draw.

 

[HighVoltageHunter]

I have a question. If I applied with my 1 preference point and didn’t draw, do I loose that preference point?

 

[Usi05]

I have a question. If I applied with my 1 preference point and didn’t draw, do I loose that preference point?

No


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[Schmo]

I have a question. If I applied with my 1 preference point and didn’t draw, do I loose that preference point?

No, you keep it, and gain one for not drawing.

 

[Usi05]

No, you keep it, and gain one for not drawing.

I thought this was not true with preference points.


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[Packer9037]

No, you keep it, and gain one for not drawing.

Unfortunately, not correct. You keep your point(s) when you apply and are unsuccessful. But you don't gain any for being unsuccessful. If you had 1, you'll still have 1 after the draw. You can purchase another next March when it's time to apply again.

 

[Skerhunter]

There is a main draw that is based on preference points and a secondary draw for returned tags that is completely random. You can be awarded a tag in the secondary draw regardless of points. You also lose your points if you get a tag in the secondary draw.

Then why do the draw odds not report anyone with less than 2 points drawing?

 

[Grundy53]

Then why do the draw odds not report anyone with less than 2 points drawing?

Probably just the odds for the main draw.

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[Skerhunter]

Probably just the odds for the main draw.

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It shows how many people applied total and how many points they have though. It also shows how many drew. Math all adds up and show no one draws with less than 2 points.

 

[wibiggame]

There is a main draw that is based on preference points and a secondary draw for returned tags that is completely random. You can be awarded a tag in the secondary draw regardless of points. You also lose your points if you get a tag in the secondary draw.

This isn't true, the released tags aren't completely random at all. They use pref points in the released tag draw as well. I have called FWP with this question. Otherwise like mentioned it would show less than 2pts drawing.

I don't get how guys are drawing released tags with 1 pref point tho and guys with 2 didn't. Only thing I can think is that people are getting confused as do Big Game Combo, Deer Combo, or Elk Combo.

 

[Grundy53]

It shows how many people applied total and how many points they have though. It also shows how many drew. Math all adds up and show no one draws with less than 2 points.

All of the released tags get drawn in the main draw. Then, they are automatically returned. So they are actually drawn twice.

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[matchu865]

I drew Elk Combo with 1pt on released tag, but my group entry was unsuccessful. Waited with baited breath to see if my buddy who I entered with also drew a released tag, it'd really suck if I drew and he didn't. Especially since we were originally planning to hunt a different state this year and go to MT next year. I would figure if you enter as a group then both in the party would be successful even on the released tags.

 

[cornfedkiller]

So I may have screwed something up in the application so looking for some answers. My buddy and I applied as a party with no intention of hunting in 2025, we were shooting for 2026. He went in with 1 point, I went in with 2 for an average of 1.5. It’s showing that I drew the elk combination but he did not. How is that possible? Really not sure what I’ll do now since I was planning on drawing Colorado this year.

You drew a returned tag (released tag) your group was split after the initial draw.

I drew Elk Combo with 1pt on released tag, but not my group entry was unsuccessful. Waited with baited breath to see if my buddy who I entered with drew, it'd really suck if I drew and he didn't. Especially since we were originally planning to hunt a different state this year and go to MT next year.

Exact same thing happened to me.. am I the only one that didn't know they'd split a group and give one guy a (returned) tag and not the other party member? I don't want to hunt solo - that's why I applied as a group.

Screws us for next year too because now my buddy has points (that he has to use or lose), and I won't have any.

Edit: I guess my buddy drew as well.. He had 1 point.