Montana apps newby

[fireguy459]

So my dad and i have been mulling over hunting montana for a few years and i think this year is the year. We came from oregon and thought washington regs were written in Chinese and now looking at montana we are kinda in the same boat. So im asking for a little help to better understand. So i know u can apply for general deer, elk or both and then u can apply for special permits. As i understand it you can hunt all three weapons with each tag? I have heard rumor of buying doe tags over the counter for some additional meat. Is that per unit? Is there a max? Or just one? .... Meat has to be processed i believe.. Can we do it? With grinders and packaging stuff? Most guys i know hunt deer in the southeast. Is there areas we can do both with similar success?  Not looking for a ridge or even a unit just an idea of how many people hunt the same unit for both and if its typical to take both with knowledge and effort? Again new to montana but pretty decent at hunting other western states. Thanks in advance! Cant wait to hear your opinions !!

[300rum]

An hour or two on the Montana FWP website will answer all those questions. 

If you don't want to apply for a special permit area there is no need to apply for tags.  The last few years tags could be purchased as left overs, even for deer combos.  If you want to build points, hunt a specific draw only unit or make sure (without a shadow of doubt) you will have a deer combo tag, then you will want to apply.

I have also had good luck calling their 1-800 for questions that I have had.   

[Karl Blanchard]

Like was said before, if you don't plan on applying for limited quota hunts, no real reason to apply for the big game combos.  Just buy em OTC when they come out.  Save yourself the unnecessary application fee.  They have really cut down on OTC doe tags in most units.  Pretty much just the whitetail tags in the 600 pmu's are still easy to get.  Every unit varies on the amount of doe tags you can purchase.   Montana doesn't have cwd so no need to process on sight.  Their regs are actually pretty simple to navigate.  Call em and have them send you the paper regs, always easier for me to navigate the paper copy than the online regs.

[huntnphool]

 Be sure you are planning to hunt the unit you apply for if going after a permit tag. If you draw one, that is the only unit can hunt in the entire season.

[quadcrazy69]

Like was said before, if you don't plan on applying for limited quota hunts, no real reason to apply for the big game combos.  Just buy em OTC when they come out.  Save yourself the unnecessary application fee.  They have really cut down on OTC doe tags in most units.  Pretty much just the whitetail tags in the 600 pmu's are still easy to get.  Every unit varies on the amount of doe tags you can purchase.   Montana doesn't have cwd so no need to process on sight.  Their regs are actually pretty simple to navigate.  Call em and have them send you the paper regs, always easier for me to navigate the paper copy than the online regs.

I called them on Friday. They are taking names and addresses and getting ready to send out packets of information. Call the 1800 number and tell them to send you a packet. They are sending them out in the next two weeks.

Me and my partner are also gathering info for a Montana Pronghorn hunt.

[fireguy459]

Thanks for the information guys. I appreciate it. I will get in contact with them and have them send me the info.

[Stein]

Packet just arrived in the mail.  There are doe OTC tags available, the ones I have bought are for a single unit.