Montana application question

[huntandjeep]

Do I just need the $602 general deer tag to hunt . Going to give it a try this year and never applied for any out of state hunts. Don't care about points or elk ( yet ) just want to go have a good time.

Allen

[vandeman17]

Yes unless you plan to bow hunt then you will need archery endorsement

[mburrows]

I think if youre applying you need to buy the combo license which is $1001..could be wrong. If your buy a leftover your dont have to buy the combo, again could be wrong.

[Magnum_Willys]

Yes unless you plan to bow hunt then you will need archery endorsement

 

No need for deer/elk combo unless they run out of just deer which they will by mid/late July. 

[bearpaw]

What you need to hunt deer is the "General Deer Combination License", no need for elk unless you want to hunt elk.

[huntandjeep]

Thanks guys  someone today was telling me I also needed a conservation tag  .

[bobcat]

I think when you buy your General Deer Combination License it includes the Conservation License.

[Kazekurt]

The general deer combo includes conservation, fishing, and upland birds along with the deer tag.

[vandeman17]

The general deer combo includes conservation, fishing, and upland birds along with the deer tag.

 

[Skyvalhunter]

Remember certain GMU are permit only, also if you apply for a permit and draw it you can only hunt deer in that unit.

[Wingin it]

Is the deer combo an over the counter deal now? As in you don't have to draw an A tag?

[DaveMonti]

Is the deer combo an over the counter deal now? As in you don't have to draw an A tag?

All non-resident Deer Combination, Elk Combination, and Big Game Combination (deer and elk) are drawing only.  Applications are due March 15th.  IF there are any leftover non-resident licenses, they will go on sale later in the summer, in July I think.  These leftover non resident combination licenses are available over the counter or for purchase online. 

For the past few years, there have been some Deer combination licenses leftover because there weren't enough drawing applicants to use the quota (4,000 deer licenses, I believe).  Last year I think they were sold out in a few hours of the availability date and time.  I believe all the Elk and Big Game combination licenses have sold out in the drawing, so none were left over for direct purchase. 

Montana's website is pretty good at explaining the combination licenses. 
There are also drawings for permits in designated deer and elk areas, much like Washington.  This is a whole different game than the non-resident combination licenses and I've not ever applied for any of these permits. 

Deer and Elk "B" licenses (antlerless) go on sale in June, along with antelope licenses.  All are drawing, I belive. 

[Wingin it]

Got it, so nothing has changed. Thanks for clarifying.

[HankC]

Randy Newberg has some good videos on Youtube about how to hunt Montana as a non-resident. You should check those out.

[badnewskruse]

What you need to hunt deer is the "General Deer Combination License", no need for elk unless you want to hunt elk.

 

[huntandjeep]

Thanks guys bought the app yesterday.
 
 Found out my 2 buddies put in as a group and me by my self. What are the odds of me getting drawn by myself ?

[vandeman17]

Thanks guys bought the app yesterday.
 
 Found out my 2 buddies put in as a group and me by my self. What are the odds of me getting drawn by myself ?

For general deer combo pretty much 100%. Last few years have had left over tags

[Timberstalker]

Thanks guys bought the app yesterday.
 
 Found out my 2 buddies put in as a group and me by my self. What are the odds of me getting drawn by myself ?

For general deer combo pretty much 100%. Last few years have had left over tags

A gal at Montana Fish and Game told me they already received in excess of 4,600 nonresident deer combo apps. I have a hard time believing it, but she was adamant.

[vandeman17]

Thanks guys bought the app yesterday.
 
 Found out my 2 buddies put in as a group and me by my self. What are the odds of me getting drawn by myself ?

For general deer combo pretty much 100%. Last few years have had left over tags

A gal at Montana Fish and Game told me they already received in excess of 4,600 nonresident deer combo apps. I have a hard time believing it, but she was adamant.

Ya me either. Will believe it when I see it

[FWilliams]

Thanks guys bought the app yesterday.
 
 Found out my 2 buddies put in as a group and me by my self. What are the odds of me getting drawn by myself ?

For general deer combo pretty much 100%. Last few years have had left over tags

A gal at Montana Fish and Game told me they already received in excess of 4,600 nonresident deer combo apps. I have a hard time believing it, but she was adamant.

Ya me either. Will believe it when I see it

interesting, I was told a couple of weeks ago that they had 4,600 non resident combos but expected  to exceed that number in sales this year, said it would be the first time in a few years that apps exceeded available permits.... I really didnt believe  her, but maybe she was on to something.

[DaveMonti]

The umber of licenses available after the drawing have been declining over the past few years.  It's only a matter of time, and perhaps it's this year, before there are applicants that don't get the license. 
I just hope I continue to get my MT Deer Combo license!

[CaNINE]

I submitted my application this year for the general deer combo. I didn't want to gamble that OTC tags would be available.

[RallyDawg]

I was getting ready to ask a similar question since this is my first time applying in Montana or for any other out of state hunt.  I was just offered an opportunity to go on a guided mule deer hunt in eastern Montana and was wondering if the deer combo was going to be a 100 percent or not this year.  Since this hunt was a gift I don't mind spending the money for the elk/deer combo if that ensures me that I will get drawn for a license.  Since there is 17,000 elk/deer combo available to non-res and only 4,600 for the deer combo, why don't people just put in for the elk/deer combo and opt to give back your elk license if you don't get picked for a special elk permit?  My strategy was to apply for the elk/deer combo and select elk units with less than 10 percent success and just give back the elk license if I don't get drawn while retaining the deer license.  I have read that the elk/deer combos haven't sold out in years and if the state is telling people that the deer combo already has 4,000 applicants I thought this is a better option to ensure getting a license for this year instead of risking trying to get one OTC this summer.

[vandeman17]

I was getting ready to ask a similar question since this is my first time applying in Montana or for any other out of state hunt.  I was just offered an opportunity to go on a guided mule deer hunt in eastern Montana and was wondering if the deer combo was going to be a 100 percent or not this year.  Since this hunt was a gift I don't mind spending the money for the elk/deer combo if that ensures me that I will get drawn for a license.  Since there is 17,000 elk/deer combo available to non-res and only 4,600 for the deer combo, why don't people just put in for the elk/deer combo and opt to give back your elk license if you don't get picked for a special elk permit?  My strategy was to apply for the elk/deer combo and select elk units with less than 10 percent success and just give back the elk license if I don't get drawn while retaining the deer license.  I have read that the elk/deer combos haven't sold out in years and if the state is telling people that the deer combo already has 4,000 applicants I thought this is a better option to ensure getting a license for this year instead of risking trying to get one OTC this summer.

That's what I have done to accumulate points. Thing is you only get 80% of the elk tag funds back if you don't draw a permit.

[Mark251]

I was getting ready to ask a similar question since this is my first time applying in Montana or for any other out of state hunt.  I was just offered an opportunity to go on a guided mule deer hunt in eastern Montana and was wondering if the deer combo was going to be a 100 percent or not this year.  Since this hunt was a gift I don't mind spending the money for the elk/deer combo if that ensures me that I will get drawn for a license.  Since there is 17,000 elk/deer combo available to non-res and only 4,600 for the deer combo, why don't people just put in for the elk/deer combo and opt to give back your elk license if you don't get picked for a special elk permit?  My strategy was to apply for the elk/deer combo and select elk units with less than 10 percent success and just give back the elk license if I don't get drawn while retaining the deer license.  I have read that the elk/deer combos haven't sold out in years and if the state is telling people that the deer combo already has 4,000 applicants I thought this is a better option to ensure getting a license for this year instead of risking trying to get one OTC this summer.

This is a great strategy that will virtually guarantee that you can draw a deer license.  I talked with a gentleman from the Montana Guides and Outfitters Association last week and he told me that they are thinking they just may sell all of the 4600 deer combination licenses during the draw this year. I also talked with an Montana outfitter who shared RallyDawg's strategy with me.  Vandeman is right though...you don't get all of the money back if you don't draw the elk tag.  I believe the difference is in the neighborhood of $100 or so.

[M_ray]

I was getting ready to ask a similar question since this is my first time applying in Montana or for any other out of state hunt.  I was just offered an opportunity to go on a guided mule deer hunt in eastern Montana and was wondering if the deer combo was going to be a 100 percent or not this year.  Since this hunt was a gift I don't mind spending the money for the elk/deer combo if that ensures me that I will get drawn for a license.  Since there is 17,000 elk/deer combo available to non-res and only 4,600 for the deer combo, why don't people just put in for the elk/deer combo and opt to give back your elk license if you don't get picked for a special elk permit?  My strategy was to apply for the elk/deer combo and select elk units with less than 10 percent success and just give back the elk license if I don't get drawn while retaining the deer license.  I have read that the elk/deer combos haven't sold out in years and if the state is telling people that the deer combo already has 4,000 applicants I thought this is a better option to ensure getting a license for this year instead of risking trying to get one OTC this summer.

Ive done it this way several times over the last 20 years or so its a good way to go if you want to ensure just the deer tag. The past 7 or so I have just bought a leftover tag and have had no problems. This year however I did put in for the draw and was not willing to take the chance, as others have said pretty soon there wont be any leftover deer tags available.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I purchased the Big game combo again this year and put in for the draws for deer and elk. Hoping to get another elk this year and explore more of the state. Last year I hunted 13 days in MT and harvested an elk (archery) and my largest deer to date with my rifle.

If I end up drawing either of my draw tags I will probably try and take 3 weeks off from work. After last year I may not be hunting WA again for a while.

[vandeman17]

I purchased the Big game combo again this year and put in for the draws for deer and elk. Hoping to get another elk this year and explore more of the state. Last year I hunted 13 days in MT and harvested an elk (archery) and my largest deer to date with my rifle.

If I end up drawing either of my draw tags I will probably try and take 3 weeks off from work. After last year I may not be hunting WA again for a while.

I hear that. It's crazy how many places where otc tags are just as good if not better than some quality tags here.