Montana's big game combo

[dvolmer]

When I didn't draw my deer/elk combo last years I called Helena headquarters to find out about the alternant list.  She (licensing agent) told me that they had 17,000 deer/elk licenses that they give out in the draw.  She said that they had 3500 more applicants then licenses.  So if my math is correct, they had 20,500 applicants for 17,000 licenses.  This is deer/elk combo only and NOT draw odds for deer only or elk only.  On top of this she shared some VERY VERY valuable information with me in regards to the $50 preference point.  I had in the past never bought a preference point because every year up until then they had more licenses than applications taken in so everyone that put in got drawn and they would sell the surplus licenses over the counter until they were gone.  Last year was the first year they had more applicants then licenses.

Here is the valuable information, this is how she explained it to me, for example, if 10,000 people that applied bought the preference point then all 10,000 were guaranteed a license.  the other (20,500-10,000=) 10,500 people would be put in a separate draw for the 7,000 licenses left over.  She said that being that I didn't buy the preference point, I was one of the 3500 that didn't get lucky in the left over draw.  If I would have bought a preference point last year she told me I would have been guaranteed a license.  I was lucky enough to get one in the alternant drawing later in the year for those who turned their license back in.

This was shocking to me in that I figured the system was sort of like Wyoming where the preference point you bought this year helped out the following year if you didn't get drawn.  Not so, the preference point helps you get the license the year that you buy it.  This was how it was explained to me.  There is a big difference in Montana between a preference point and a bonus point.

Now if all 20,500 people had bought the preference point, then it would have been a draw with everyone included but it is not that way.

I hope I have explained this in a way you can understand.  Once again, this is just what the licensing lady explained to me last year when I didn't draw.

I would like to know if anyone on this forum bought a preference point for the deer/elk combo license last year and didn't get drawn???  I'm not interested in the deer only because they had way way more applicants then the 4000 plus licenses they give out and I don't know the number of applicants that did or didn't buy a preference point.  The deer only license could have well had people get denied that did buy the preference point.

[Stein]

You are correct, there are two points systems in Montana, preference for the general tag and bonus for the special permits.  The general tag is a true preference system, those with the most points get the tags and then whatever is left goes into a drawing.  So, anyone with 1 point was guaranteed the tag last year and the rest were raffled to those with 0 points.

With the special permits, the bonus system is almost identical to WA, you square the points, get that many names in the hat and then run a draw.  You could draw with zero points or 20 points.

[Rainier10]

I'm in.

[Pathfinder101]

2011 was the last time I hunted Montana.  I put in a couple of years to get drawn for the Deer license, and that was normal back then.  Then MT jacked up their prices (I retired from the Army and had less time off in the fall with my new job, so I stopped putting in for out of state hunts) and a LOT less people were putting in.  Most people got drawn every year for a while.  Now, it looks like things have leveled back off (I think MT dropped their prices a little when the licenses were under-subscribed for a few years).  Looks like about an every-other-year proposition again.

Great hunting though.  Went twice, scored both times 

[dvolmer]

My first year hunting in Montana was in 2009.  Every year I put in for the deer/elk combo and got a license until last year.  Before 2018 (from 2009-2017) I got a license and everyone that applied for the deer/elk combo got a license.  They even would sell the surplus licenses on a first come first serve basis after the draw was over.  I was told that due to President Trumps booming economy (and that is what the licensing agent told me and not to get political here) the average blue collar worker had more money in their pocket to spend and they had a massive increase in applicants.  They are expecting the same turn out this year also.

I would expect a increase in cost on Montana licenses in the near future.  They will raise the cost to get as close as they can to applicants willing to pay=to number of licenses offered.  They owe it to their state to get the best bang for the buck that they can.  Simple business model.  It gives their wildlife dept. tons of money and recourses to manage their game and keeps the residents costs at hardly anything.  If you were a resident of Montana you wouldn't want it any other way.

[oldschool]

when is the draw

[vandeman17]

when is the draw

week of april 22nd

[Ryans71]

Buddy & I submitted our group licenses this morning.....and we each bought the preference point.  Hoping we'll have good news next month.

[bornhunter]

Buddy & I submitted our group licenses this morning.....and we each bought the preference point.  Hoping we'll have good news next month.

Good luck!

[3nails]

 My son and I are in. $2300 

[Stein]

I put in for 380 with 5 points, so don't bother applying for that one.   

[Britt-dog]

Waited till the last minute, but I am in. Applied for a 900 elk permit also. Committing to the expense should guarantee I draw something good here at home.

[Tbob]

Okay a little confused now on the points. So last year, I didnt “buy” any points and didn’t get drawn for my deer combo.. so this year I did buy the point for the deer combo with my application. So do I get a point for not drawing last year? Wondering if I’m in with two points for this year or just the one that I purchased with this years application? Thanks!

[MtnMuley]

My son and I are in. $2300 

Can you imagine 20 years ago that you'd be saying that and that's only to get you into a drawing, which might not even result in a tag?

[Stein]

Okay a little confused now on the points. So last year, I didnt “buy” any points and didn’t get drawn for my deer combo.. so this year I did buy the point for the deer combo with my application. So do I get a point for not drawing last year? Wondering if I’m in with two points for this year or just the one that I purchased with this years application? Thanks!

If you didn't buy the points last year you didn't get them.  Unlike WA, just applying doesn't get you a point, you have to pay the extra fee.  If you don't pay the point fee, you will have zero points forever even if you apply every year and never draw.

I believe the point you buy this year doesn't get added until after the draw (for use next year), but someone may correct me.  My guess is you are in this year with zero points.