Montana deadline 03/15

[JLS]

Don't forget applications are due by March 15.  If you want special permits/points they must be in then.  You can probably bank on unsold elk licenses based on the past few years' sales.  Also, whatever you paid last year will be 3% more this year.

Here is a link to all of the elk population data, including objective maps.

http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/elk/

Good luck in the drawing.

[Wea300mag]

Thanks for reminder. I'm willing to bet there will be lots of leftovers this year, deer and elk

[JLS]

There were leftover elk tags still in November.  High pricing will do that.

[Bowbender]

Out of state big game combo $1002.00 this year

[Bean Counter]

Thanks for the the reminder, JLS. Last year I took my place in the 3-4 decade long wait for bighorn. 

[vandeman17]

Out of state big game combo $1002.00 this year

Dear lord. Brutal but still going for it. 

[Wea300mag]

That price, along with decreasing deer populations, are going to bite MT in the backside this year.

[3nails]

 Looks like there could be significant winter kill this year. They're getting buried in snow.

[ShaneTyTrey]

Might be a rough year, but heading over anyway, twice in fact once for elk in October and again for Deer in November.

[dscubame]

That price, along with decreasing deer populations, are going to bite MT in the backside this year.

Just like Idaho a few or more years ago.....

[vandeman17]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

[JLS]

If you did it online it is the "convenience fee" or whatever they call it.  Typical 3% transaction fee for credit card sales.

[vandeman17]

If you did it online it is the "convenience fee" or whatever they call it.  Typical 3% transaction fee for credit card sales.

Wow what a joke! Yes I did it online. I can see like a couple dollar charge but this was like $25

[dvolmer]

It goes to the third party provider that runs their web system for online licensing.  Major rip off but me and my three budies all paid it!

[deerslyr]

If you draw your second choice does it zero your points? I've heard two different answers, I've never paid attention because I always put in for the elkhorns and a breaks tag, but this year my buddy wants me to put in for the new unlimited gardiner tag. Not sure I want to zero out my points on it but I may do it anyways. Its going to cut down the pressure in that area tremendously.

[Karl Blanchard]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    ok now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

[vandeman17]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    ok now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

That's what made me mad was even on my receipt, it just showed tag price, $5 fee for something then mysteriously the total was an extra $26. Just don't hide it from me

[MtnMuley]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    ok now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

If you put in for the combo, you will either draw both deer and elk or not draw both deer and elk, so there's no need worrying about getting stuck with a $730 deer tag.  PS, if you applied for the combo like you said you did, congrats on going hunting in Montana this year.

[vandeman17]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    ok now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

If you put in for the combo, you will either draw both deer and elk or not draw both deer and elk, so there's no need worrying about getting stuck with a $730 deer tag.  PS, if you applied for the combo like you said you did, congrats on going hunting in Montana this year.

Actually he is talking about what we did. We put in for a special permit elk tag and then picked the option that if we don't draw the special permit, we want to return our general elk tag and keep our deer tag. They refund you $300 if you go this route.

[Karl Blanchard]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    OK now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

If you put in for the combo, you will either draw both deer and elk or not draw both deer and elk, so there's no need worrying about getting stuck with a $730 deer tag.  PS, if you applied for the combo like you said you did, congrats on going hunting in Montana this year.

Incorrect.  If you draw the big game combo but not the special elk permit then you can return your elk tag for a $300 refund. Therefore you end up paying $150 extra for just a deer tag.  I thought about applying for just the elk and then if I didn't draw I would get a refund and turn around and buy a surplus deer tag, but come to find out they only give an 80% refund for the elk combo if unsuccessful in the special permit draws.  I would lose $170 that way so I just did the big game combo. 

I hunt Montana every year for deer but the constant price increases, mystery fee's and the blatant money snatching from the non residents is getting old!  If I pull my elk permit this year I am dumping Montana.  Colorado is quickly becoming my new favorite state!

[vandeman17]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    OK now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

If you put in for the combo, you will either draw both deer and elk or not draw both deer and elk, so there's no need worrying about getting stuck with a $730 deer tag.  PS, if you applied for the combo like you said you did, congrats on going hunting in Montana this year.

Incorrect.  If you draw the big game combo but not the special elk permit then you can return your elk tag for a $300 refund. Therefore you end up paying $150 extra for just a deer tag.  I thought about applying for just the elk and then if I didn't draw I would get a refund and turn around and buy a surplus deer tag, but come to find out they only give an 80% refund for the elk combo if unsuccessful in the special permit draws.  I would lose $170 that way so I just did the big game combo. 

I hunt Montana every year for deer but the constant price increases, mystery fee's and the blatant money snatching from the non residents is getting old!  If I pull my elk permit this year I am dumping Montana.  Colorado is quickly becoming my new favorite state!

Remember that part of your total went towards putting your name in the draw and getting your bonus point plus the convenience fee so your deer tag isn't quite as much as your are saying but it is still nuts! That means I am nuts as well because I did the same as you. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Just put in for my combo license last night so that I can put in for an elk tag, hopefully not draw and get the bonus point, then just hunt deer. My question is this, The general big game license is $971 and there is a $5 app fee yet the total is $1002. Is that tax or where does the extra $25 come from?

I did mine a few days ago and it came up 1031.90!

elk permit-$4
bonus point fee-$20
big game combo-$971
application fee-$10
Total-$1005

Oh wait!  I forgot to add the "extra fee with no explanation"-$26.90
New total-$1031.90! 

The best part is that if you don't draw an elk tag you only get $300 back, which makes your deer tag the bargain price of $730!!!!  Rant over.................wait no its not!    OK now I'm done!
the "just because with no explanation fee-$

If you put in for the combo, you will either draw both deer and elk or not draw both deer and elk, so there's no need worrying about getting stuck with a $730 deer tag.  PS, if you applied for the combo like you said you did, congrats on going hunting in Montana this year.

Incorrect.  If you draw the big game combo but not the special elk permit then you can return your elk tag for a $300 refund. Therefore you end up paying $150 extra for just a deer tag.  I thought about applying for just the elk and then if I didn't draw I would get a refund and turn around and buy a surplus deer tag, but come to find out they only give an 80% refund for the elk combo if unsuccessful in the special permit draws.  I would lose $170 that way so I just did the big game combo. 

I hunt Montana every year for deer but the constant price increases, mystery fee's and the blatant money snatching from the non residents is getting old!  If I pull my elk permit this year I am dumping Montana.  Colorado is quickly becoming my new favorite state!

Remember that part of your total went towards putting your name in the draw and getting your bonus point plus the convenience fee so your deer tag isn't quite as much as your are saying but it is still nuts! That means I am nuts as well because I did the same as you. 

OK I am off by $24   still an outrageous deer tag but if you wanna play you gotta pay! 

[3nails]

 Couldn't the extra fees be avoided by just buying the tags without applying? They never sell out anymore.

[vandeman17]

Couldn't the extra fees be avoided by just buying the tags without applying? They never sell out anymore.

Yes but if you go that route you can't apply for special tags

[Karl Blanchard]

Couldn't the extra fees be avoided by just buying the tags without applying? They never sell out anymore.

Yes but if you go that route you can't apply for special tags

  I would love to OTC montana elk this year but my dad is dying to go back to Colorado this year so Montana deer, Colorado deer, and if by some amazing luck I draw something good like a breaks elk permit or Nevada deer, or NM elk, then the Colorado tag gets returned........................I need more vacation time!

[180-GRAIN]

So I applied for the big game elk and deer combo, with elk and deer special permit applications. I chose the 80 percent refund if not drawn for the elk. I read it as i get refunded for elk but not deer is this correct? Am I going deer hunting in montana this year no matter what . The wife probably will not be happy about that!

[vandeman17]

I believe if you chose the 80% refund then that means 80% of the total so you wouldn't have any tags...

[180-GRAIN]

Well that was the plan really, just wanted to get points unless i draw a hell of an elk tag. What I was trying to figure out though is if I dont draw my elk tag but draw my deer tag how does that work? Do I loose my special deer tag because i did not draw my elk tag?

[vandeman17]

Well that was the plan really, just wanted to get points unless i draw a hell of an elk tag. What I was trying to figure out though is if I dont draw my elk tag but draw my deer tag how does that work? Do I loose my special deer tag because i did not draw my elk tag?

Oh gotcha. I am not sure how that works because we only put in for an elk permit so if we don't draw, getting $300 back and keeping deer.

[180-GRAIN]

Well that was the plan really, just wanted to get points unless i draw a hell of an elk tag. What I was trying to figure out though is if I dont draw my elk tag but draw my deer tag how does that work? Do I loose my special deer tag because i did not draw my elk tag?

Oh gotcha. I am not sure how that works because we only put in for an elk permit so if we don't draw, getting $300 back and keeping deer.

Me either , I tried finding that out but couldnt find any info on it.

[vandeman17]

The way they have it worded is the 80% return means returning both tags but if you drew a permit maybe it would just revert to the $300 return for elk. I would hope it would work that way.

[180-GRAIN]

The way they have it worded is the 80% return means returning both tags but if you drew a permit maybe it would just revert to the $300 return for elk. I would hope it would work that way.

Me to! kinda defeats the purpose of applying for the deer tag if your not able to draw it 

[YoterHunter]

If you put in for deer elk combo and don't get drawn for your elk . You still can get drawn for your deer special permit. My son and I did that in 2012. Didn't get drawn for the elk we wanted  declined the elk and got the deer permit that we wanted.

[180-GRAIN]

If you put in for deer elk combo and don't get drawn for your elk . You still can get drawn for your deer special permit. My son and I did that in 2012. Didn't get drawn for the elk we wanted  declined the elk and got the deer permit that we wanted.

Right on thanks for the info