US state

Montana (MT)

Jurisdiction shell is ready; add agency, species, unit, deadline, and application data as research comes in.

Known for Elk

Montana big-game backdrop

Montana is a classic elk and mule deer destination.

Generated wildlife art is used as atmosphere only; official tag, season, and unit decisions stay tied to agency data below.

Back to map Compare all units Open application portal

Agency source

1

high confidence

Opportunities

19

researched nonresident paths

Applications

0

public research mode

Unit map

GIS

ArcGIS REST

Nonresident permit and tag opportunities

First-pass official-source research package for nonresident applications, draw/OTC paths, odds, harvest stats, and map linkage. Retrieved 2026-05-13.

19 opportunities

9 mapped

1 approximate

11 sources

Application process

Montana nonresidents apply online through FWP OLS/MyFWP. General nonresident deer/elk access is primarily through one of three combination-license drawings: General Deer Combination, General Elk Combination, or General Big Game Combination. Combination and deer/elk permit applications open March 1, 2026 and close April 1, 2026 at 11:45 p.m. MST. Deer/elk permits are HD-specific privileges layered on top of a valid combination license and are not additional animals. Moose, sheep, goat, and bison applications close May 1. Antelope, Deer B, Elk B, sandhill crane, and swan applications close June 1. Mountain lion limited license applications open June 30 and close July 22. Species drawings use squared bonus points; nonresident combination drawings use preference points, with 75% of licenses awarded by preference point order and 25% randomly to zero-point applicants. Parties up to five may apply, using averaged preference points and one group entry. Post-draw Deer Permit, Elk Permit, Deer B, and Elk B surplus list signup runs June 15-July 15, 2026 and is randomized before email offers are sent.

Open portal

Timezone: MST / Montana time as stated by FWP; 2026 deadline pages state MST

Deer

General Deer Combination

high

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Units: statewide/regulation-dependent deer hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-April 1, 2026; deadline April 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-April

Fees: kind: text; text: General Deer Combination $760 • kind: text; text: Conservation License $10

Open map layer

Elk

General Elk Combination and General Big Game Combination

high

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Units: statewide/regulation-dependent elk hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-April 1, 2026; deadline April 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-April

Fees: kind: text; text: General Elk Combination $1112 • kind: text; text: General Big Game (Deer & Elk) Combination $1312

Open map layer

Deer

Deer Permit

high

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Hunt codes: HD-specific deer permit codes in annual regulations and draw reports

Units: deer hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-April 1, 2026; deadline April 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-April

Fees: kind: text; text: $5 application/permit fee noted for deer permits • kind: text; text: Nonresident must also apply for/hold eligible Deer or Big Game Combination

Open map layer

Elk

Elk Permit

high

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Hunt codes: HD-specific elk permit codes in annual regulations and draw reports

Units: elk hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-April 1, 2026; deadline April 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-April

Fees: kind: text; text: $9 nonresident permit fee reported on FWP elk materials • kind: text; text: Nonresident must also apply for/hold eligible Elk or Big Game Combination

Open map layer

Deer

Deer B License

high

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Hunt codes: HD-specific or regional Deer B license codes in annual regulations and draw reports

Units: deer hunting districts or regions

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-June 1, 2026; deadline June 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-June • kind: text; text: Surplus list signup June 15-July 15, 2026

Fees: kind: text; text: Deer B $75 plus $5 application fee; FWP species pages may show $80 including application fee

Open map layer

Elk

Elk B License

high

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Hunt codes: HD-specific Elk B license codes in annual regulations and draw reports

Units: elk hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-June 1, 2026; deadline June 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-June • kind: text; text: Surplus list signup June 15-July 15, 2026

Fees: kind: text; text: Elk B $270 plus $5 application fee; FWP species pages may show $275 including application fee

Open map layer

Antelope

Antelope License, Antelope B License, and 900-series Archery Opportunity

high

draw

nonresident

approx map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Hunt codes: Antelope district and 900-series codes in annual regulations and draw reports

Units: antelope hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-June 1, 2026; deadline June 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; special drawing early August

Fees: kind: text; text: Antelope $200 plus $5 application fee • kind: text; text: Antelope B $200 plus $5 application fee

Moose

Moose License

high

draw

nonresident

needs map link

Hunt codes: Moose hunt codes in MSG/B regulations and draw reports

Units: moose hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-May 1, 2026; deadline May 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; special drawing mid-May • kind: text; text: SuperTag deadline June 30, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST

Fees: kind: text; text: Moose license $1250 • kind: text; text: $50 application fee for moose/sheep/goat/bison

Bighorn Sheep

Limited and Unlimited Bighorn Sheep Licenses

medium

draw

nonresident

needs map link

Hunt codes: Sheep hunt codes in MSG/B regulations and draw reports

Units: bighorn sheep hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-May 1, 2026; deadline May 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; special drawing mid-May • kind: text; text: SuperTag deadline June 30, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST

Fees: kind: text; text: Sheep license $1250 • kind: text; text: $50 application fee for moose/sheep/goat/bison

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat License

high

draw

nonresident

needs map link

Hunt codes: Goat hunt codes in MSG/B regulations and draw reports

Units: mountain goat hunting districts

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-May 1, 2026; deadline May 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; special drawing mid-May • kind: text; text: SuperTag deadline June 30, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST

Fees: kind: text; text: Goat license $1250 • kind: text; text: $50 application fee for moose/sheep/goat/bison

Bison

Bison License

high

draw

nonresident

needs map link

Hunt codes: Bison hunt codes/areas in MSG/B regulations and draw reports

Units: bison hunt areas

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Apply March 1-May 1, 2026; deadline May 1, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; special drawing mid-May • kind: text; text: SuperTag deadline June 30, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST

Fees: kind: text; text: Bison license $1250 • kind: text; text: $50 application fee for moose/sheep/goat/bison

Mountain Lion

Limited, Restricted, and Unlimited Mountain Lion Licenses

medium

draw

nonresident

map: deer-elk-lion-hd-2026

Hunt codes: Limited lion district/license codes in lion regulations and draw reports

Units: mountain lion hunting districts/management units

Deadlines: kind: text; text: Limited license applications open June 30; deadline July 22, 2026 11:45 p.m. MST; drawing mid-August • kind: text; text: Restricted/unlimited licenses OTC where available

Fees: kind: text; text: Mountain Lion restricted/limited/unlimited $320

Open map layer

Showing 12 featured opportunities. Research pack contains 19; remaining entries stay available to Jeremiah and future detailed tables.

Prerequisites

• kind: text; text: Create or use a MyFWP / FWP Online Licensing System account for applications, purchases, draw status, surplus signup, roster signup, and point purchases.
• kind: text; text: Buy a Montana Conservation License before applying for or buying hunting licenses; FWP lists the 2026 nonresident cost as $10.
• kind: text; text: Pay the annual Base Hunting License fee with the first hunting license/application; FWP lists the 2026 nonresident cost as $50.
• kind: text; text: Combination licenses include season fishing and upland bird licenses, but FWP says Conservation license, Base Hunting License fee, and AIS Prevention Pass must be purchased separately.
• kind: text; text: Anyone born after January 1, 1985 must provide approved hunter education proof to buy or apply for a Montana hunting license; apprentice hunting is available for eligible hunters age 10+ with restrictions.
• kind: text; text: Youth who complete hunter education and turn 12 by January 16 of the license year may buy/apply and may hunt after August 15 of the license year.
• kind: text; text: Archery-only seasons or districts require a bow-and-arrow license plus bowhunter education or accepted prior bowhunting-license proof.
• kind: text; text: First-time black bear license buyers must complete Montana's Black Bear Identification Test before purchasing a bear license.

Map gaps

• kind: text; text: Moose district layer needed from official FWP GIS or regulation map source.
• kind: text; text: Bighorn sheep district layer needed from official FWP GIS or regulation map source.
• kind: text; text: Mountain goat district layer needed from official FWP GIS or regulation map source.
• kind: text; text: Bison hunt-area layer needed from official FWP GIS or regulation map source.
• kind: text; text: Black bear management area/region layer needed.
• kind: text; text: Wolf management unit/region layer needed.
• kind: text; text: Turkey region/county/area layer needed.
• kind: text; text: Sandhill crane and swan flyway/permit area layers needed.

Blockers / follow-up

• kind: text; text: Need to parse current 2026 regulation PDFs for exact deer, elk, antelope, B-license, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, lion, wolf, turkey, crane, and swan hunt-code tables.
• kind: text; text: Need to normalize MyFWP draw statistics PDF/Excel reports into structured odds rows by year, species, hunt code, quota, applicant count, successful count, residency, and point level.
• kind: text; text: Need to normalize MyFWP harvest estimates by species/year/district and connect them to Boondoggle units.
• kind: text; text: Need official species-specific GIS layers beyond the existing deer/elk/lion HD layer.
• kind: text; text: Need final confirmation of black bear/nonresident hound draw details and swan/crane exact fee details from current species PDFs before exposing in production UI.

Jeremiah guide notes

What should a regular nonresident deer or elk hunter do first?

Create/verify MyFWP, confirm hunter education, then apply by April 1 for one combination license: Deer, Elk, or Big Game. Add any desired deer/elk permit application at the same time.

Is a Montana deer or elk permit an extra animal?

No. Deer and elk permits generally authorize a special place/sex/season opportunity on top of a valid underlying license; they are not additional tags.

What are the big nonresident deadlines?

April 1 for deer/elk combinations and deer/elk permits; May 1 for moose, sheep, goat, and bison; June 1 for antelope, Deer B, Elk B, crane, and swan; July 22 for limited mountain lion.

How do Montana points work?

Most species drawings use squared bonus points plus the current application chance. Nonresident combination licenses use preference points: 75% go by preference point order and 25% go randomly to zero-point applicants.

What if I miss the main deer/elk draw?

For Deer Permit, Elk Permit, Deer B, and Elk B, sign up for the surplus list June 15-July 15 if available. It is randomized, and selected hunters get email purchase instructions.

Can I just buy general deer or elk OTC as a nonresident?

Normally no. General deer/elk access for nonresidents is through combination licenses or restricted special-category programs, not a simple OTC general tag.

Official sources

Applications, Drawings, and Bonus Points

2026 application openings, deadlines, draw timing, and opportunity availability by species.

Nonresident Hunting Licenses

Nonresident license landing page, MyFWP/OLS workflow links, alternates, refunds, surplus, roster, and special-category license links.

Nonresident License Fees

2026 nonresident combination prices, species license prices, availability, base-fee note, AISPP note, and application-fee notes.

Hunting Requirements / Base Hunting Fees

Conservation license, base hunting license fee, hunter education, bowhunter education, and bow-and-arrow license prerequisites.

Bonus and Preference Points

Montana bonus point formula, nonresident combination preference point allocation, party application averaging, point purchase windows, and point loss rules.

Drawing Statistics