MONTANA Big Game Draw 2026 | How NON-RESIDENTS Apply for Elk, Mule Deer & Pronghorn

MONTANA Big Game Draw 2026 | How NON-RESIDENTS Apply for Elk, Mule Deer & Pronghorn

How to Apply for Montana Big-Game Tags as a Non-Resident (2026 Guide)

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited. My name is Matt Hartsky. Today will be the next article in our series about how to apply as a non-resident for big game in the most prominent Western states. To the best of my knowledge, everything here is accurate — but as always, make sure you do your own research. I’ll have separate posts for Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, and Utah over the coming weeks.

In this guide, I’m breaking down exactly how Montana’s draw system works for non-residents. We’ll walk through the non-resident combination licenses, explain the difference between preference points and bonus points, go over key deadlines, quotas, and strategy, and help you build a solid 2026 plan.

By the end of this article, you’ll know when to apply, what you’re actually buying, how your points affect your odds, and how to approach Montana strategically instead of just guessing your way through the draw.

Why Montana Starts With a Non-Resident Combo License

Every non-resident who wants to hunt elk or deer in Montana starts in the same place:
with a non-resident combination license.

That single decision determines everything that follows:

  • What seasons you can hunt

  • Where you’re eligible

  • How your odds are calculated

  • Whether you can apply for limited-entry permits

It’s the backbone of the Montana system, and understanding it clearly is going to save you from the confusion that trips up thousands of hunters every spring.

The Three Non-Resident Combo Options

Montana offers three versions of this combination license:

1) Big Game Combination – Elk + Deer

This is the all-access option. It gives you:

  • A general elk tag

  • A general deer tag

  • Upland bird privileges

  • Fishing rights

It’s the most expensive but gives you the most flexibility, especially if you want to make the most of one trip.

2) Elk Combination

  • General elk tag

  • Bird + fishing privileges

Perfect if you’re only focused on elk.

3) Deer Combination

  • General deer tag

  • Bird + fishing privileges

Same idea — streamlined for deer hunters.

Each of these combo types feeds into the same application system, and all of them use preference points for non-residents.

During the application, you’ll choose:

  • Which combo you want

  • Whether to apply solo or with a partner

  • Whether you want to be considered for the alternate list

That alternate list gives you a chance at a returned license later in the year.

Once you draw a combination license, that acts as your foundation for the season. It grants you general-season hunting access across multiple regions and unlocks the ability to apply for limited-entry permits.

What a Combination License Unlocks

Drawing a combo license lets you hunt general elk and deer units statewide. On top of that, it opens the door to apply for limited-entry permits — like the Breaks or the Elkhorns — where trophy quality is typically higher and quotas are much tighter.

Just understand:

Drawing a combo license does not guarantee a limited-entry permit.
You still have to apply for limited-entry units separately.

That’s where bonus points come into play.

Also, Montana handles refunds differently than most states. If you apply for a combination license but don’t draw, you can choose between a full refund or partial retention (so you keep your preference point active). If you draw a combo but later decline it, Montana may return about 80% of your cost — but you forfeit the point you used to draw it.

Bottom line:
The non-resident combination license is your entry ticket. It’s not just a tag — it’s essentially your Montana membership card for the season.

Preference Points vs. Bonus Points – Overview

Montana’s non-resident system revolves around two different point types:

Point System Applies To Purpose
Preference Points Combo License Access to general hunting
Bonus Points LE Permits Improve limited-entry odds

They are totally separate.

Preference points only matter for drawing your non-resident combo license. Bonus points only matter for drawing limited-entry permits.

This is why so many hunters get confused. But once you understand how they layer together, it becomes one of the most logical Western systems.

How Montana Preference Points Work

Preference points apply only to non-resident elk, deer, or big game combo licenses.

Here’s how Montana allocates those combo licenses:

  • 75% of tags go to the highest preference point holders

  • 25% of tags are awarded randomly

This means:

  • Loyal applicants are rewarded

  • New applicants still have a chance

You can build one preference point per year by:

  • Buying it outright between July 1–Dec 31

  • OR applying and not drawing

You can also buy a point at application, as long as you didn’t buy one earlier that year.

If you go more than:

Two consecutive years without buying a preference point → your points reset to zero.

So consistency matters.

When the draw runs, the highest point holders get first crack at 75% of the combo tags. The remaining 25% are random.

That’s why newcomers can still get lucky.

How Montana Bonus Points Work

Bonus points are used only for limited-entry permits, including:

  • Elk

  • Deer

  • Antelope

  • Moose

  • Sheep

  • Goat

Bonus points are squared to weight your odds:

  • 1 point = 1 entry

  • 2 points = 4 entries

  • 3 points = 9 entries

  • 10 points = 100+ entries

The random element never goes away — but long-term applicants have far more “names in the hat.”

You can buy one bonus point per species per year between July 1–Sept 30. If you apply for a permit and don’t draw, you automatically get a bonus point unless you opt out. If you draw the permit, your bonus points reset to zero.

This squared system rewards persistence while still giving new hunters a shot.

Application Timing & Deadlines

The primary application window for non-resident combo licenses and limited-entry permits opens in early March and closes around April 1 each year.

This is the big one. If you miss that deadline, you’re out for the year — no exceptions.

After the spring draw, you’ll have two major point purchase windows:

  • July 1–Sept 30: Buy bonus points

  • July 1–Dec 31: Buy preference points

These summer/fall windows are your chance to keep building points even if you don’t plan to hunt that year.

Costs, Refunds & the Alternate List

Montana is more expensive than many states.

Approx:

  • Big Game Combo: ~$1,000

  • Elk Combo: ~$950

  • Deer Combo: ~$700

  • $10 non-refundable application fee

  • $20 bonus point fee (optional)

If you don’t draw, you get a refund of the license cost minus non-refundable portions. You can also opt into the alternate list — a second-chance pool where declined or refunded tags are redistributed in random order.

It’s not guaranteed, but it’s free and worth selecting.

Montana draws the combination license first.
Only those who draw a combo go into the limited-entry permit draw.

This sequencing is critical.
If you don’t draw a combo, your limited-entry application never even runs.

Building a Smart 2026 Montana Strategy

Everything starts with drawing the non-resident combo license. Without it, you can’t hunt — even if you theoretically “drew” a limited-entry permit.

In most years, non-residents with two or more preference points have a high chance of drawing a combo. But remember, that 25% random pool always exists.

The smartest long-term play:

  • Always buy your preference points

  • Apply yearly

  • Stay in the game

Then, once you’re drawing combos consistently, start building bonus points toward high-end permit units like the Breaks or the Elkhorns.

You can be hunting the general units while you build those bonus points, learning the country and scouting future permit areas.

Montana’s general hunting is excellent. If you want to hunt elk or deer more frequently instead of waiting on a once-in-a-decade tag, the general combo is a great path.

Group Applications & Public Access

Montana allows up to five non-residents to apply together for combos. Preference points are averaged. That can help if your group is fairly even — but one partner with zero points drags everyone down.

Public access varies widely across the state. Some units look great on paper but are mostly private land. Always cross-check districts with maps before applying. The Montana Hunt Planner is a good resource.

If you want a second chance after the main draw, be sure to join the alternate list. Every year, hunters pick up returned licenses this way.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Missing the April deadline

  • Applying without enough preference points

  • Forgetting to buy points in summer

  • Picking districts with poor public access

  • Credit card failure during payment

  • Misunderstanding permit sequencing

  • Ignoring the alternate list

Stay organized and you’ll avoid 99% of the problems.

Final 2026 Montana Game Plan

  • Apply before April 1

  • Always buy preference + bonus points

  • Use general hunts to stay active

  • Build bonus points toward limited-entry

  • Track annual updates

  • Be flexible

Montana rewards commitment. Hunters who stay consistent are the ones who get opportunities year after year.

Whether you’re chasing your first general season bull or planning a multi-year push for a Missouri Breaks permit, every application is part of the hunt.

TEAM BACKBONE

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If you’re serious about sharpening your edge and surrounding yourself with driven hunters, TEAM BACKBONE is waiting at BackboneUnlimited.com under our Membership tab.

Thanks for being here.
TRAIN HARDER. HUNT SMARTER. NEVER SETTLE.

— MATT HARTSKY

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