Montana units next year

[Shooter4]

What are everybody’s thoughts on a first timer going to Montana and there odds on a mule deer and elk during modern rifle best unit to hunt to be successful on both?

[vandeman17]

I recommend getting and using the gohunt insider if you don’t have it. You will get a lot of good info there along with looking at harvest statistics on the Montana hunt planner

[Magnum_Willys]

Did you buy your bonus preference points last year?   If no points then no hunt this year.....

[vandeman17]

Did you buy your bonus points last year?   If no points then no hunt this year.....

Why would you say that?

[fowl smacker]

Did you buy your bonus points last year?   If no points then no hunt this year.....

There are still plenty of other tags available to someone with no bonus points.

[Skyvalhunter]

With more people starting to hunt out of state than ever preference points become more important than ever

[bear]

I’ve never put in and not drawn, but I think this next year will be tough.  Especially with what’s happening in Idaho.

[Magnum_Willys]

Did you buy your bonus points last year?   If no points then no hunt this year.....

Why would you say that?

Last year only 50% of applicants without any preference points drew tags.
This year I expect much less as all those “losers” have another point this year.

 

[CastleRocker]

We must be lucky...have drawn every year we've put in, and we only put in for deer, not the deer/elk combo, like a lot of others do. 

Have never bought preference points in Montana...yet.  Sounds like we should either start buying them, or just keep rolling the the dice with a 50/50 chance of winning.  (Actually,  as far as odds go...those are pretty darn good).

[archery288]

Montana used to be a “for sure” thing with a point.  This last year I know several groups that had a point and didn’t even draw.  2021 is going to be even worse.  I wouldn’t count on it as a for sure thing this year.  It’s going to turn into an ever 2-3 year deal here sadly.  Idaho selling out of tags these last few days already and selling out completely last year early, it’s going to drive people to MT unfortunately even though the cost is double.  Writing is on the wall.  I’m as bummed as anyone.

[Karl Blanchard]

Montana used to be a “for sure” thing with a point.  This last year I know several groups that had a point and didn’t even draw.  2021 is going to be even worse.  I wouldn’t count on it as a for sure thing this year.  It’s going to turn into an ever 2-3 year deal here sadly.  Idaho selling out of tags these last few days already and selling out completely last year early, it’s going to drive people to MT unfortunately even though the cost is double.  Writing is on the wall.  I’m as bummed as anyone.

hell montana is only a hundred bucks more  than idaho now. MT is looking like more of a value now with Idaho's increase and unit restrictions. You can hunt for 5 weeks, WAY more deer, extra doe tags in many areas, and basically the whole state is wide open for your tag. 

[archery288]

Montana used to be a “for sure” thing with a point.  This last year I know several groups that had a point and didn’t even draw.  2021 is going to be even worse.  I wouldn’t count on it as a for sure thing this year.  It’s going to turn into an ever 2-3 year deal here sadly.  Idaho selling out of tags these last few days already and selling out completely last year early, it’s going to drive people to MT unfortunately even though the cost is double.  Writing is on the wall.  I’m as bummed as anyone.

hell montana is only a hundred bucks more  than idaho now. MT is looking like more of a value now with Idaho's increase and unit restrictions. You can hunt for 5 weeks, WAY more deer, extra doe tags in many areas, and basically the whole state is wide open for your tag.

Truth Karl. The increase in Idaho tag costs there’s not much and incentive to hunt there anymore over anywhere else.  Except travel time depending where you live.

[Karl Blanchard]

Plus if everyone goes to Montana again, I can get a second idaho tag! Idaho sucks! Montana is awesome! Hunt Montana!

[ganghis]

You can pay an extra $50 for an extra preference point when you apply, so you can bump up to one preference point if you're willing to pay the extra $.  Not sure what percentage chance you'll have with that - think last year w/ deer-elk combo that would take you from 50% w/ 0 points to 75% w/ 1 point.  Or if you want an every-other-year "sure thing" (at least right now), you can get a pref point one year, and hunt the next at 100% by paying the extra $50 to get up to 2 points.

[Johnny Doe]

Montana has a set amount of tags that must go to people with no preference point.  There was an article floating around last year that basically showed your odds were going to be close to the same with 1point or no point.  Now if you have 2 pref points...your probably in business! 

I drew a combo this year with no pref point and I believe my odds were somewhere around 50%.  I hear a lot of guys with 1 pref point did not draw...