Montana
Non-resident hunting — draw tags, OTC options, fees & deadlines
Application Deadlines
Species Details
NO OTC for non-residents. NR must apply for Big Game Combo or Elk Combo License via lottery draw (apply March 1 – April 1). Alternates list available May 1 – June 1. No preference points — pure lottery. Verify at fwp.mt.gov.
General OTC B license. Eastern Montana has excellent mule deer with lower pressure.
Random lottery. Eastern Montana units. Good odds overall.
Pure lottery. ~300:1 odds or worse. Apply as a lottery ticket — no points accumulate.
Pure random lottery. Very few tags. $50 NR app fee. Apply Mar 1–Apr 1 at fwp.mt.gov. NOTE: once drawn, you are ineligible for 7 years — so this is your once-in-a-lifetime-ish tag.
Pure lottery. Only a handful of NR tags issued annually.
OTC spring and fall bear. Excellent hunting, good populations. Easiest western bear state.
Extremely rare. Yellowstone border hunt. Apply every year as a lottery ticket.
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