Montana
(Note: This overview was extracted from the December 2007 issue of The Huntin' Fool) 
Montana, like Colorado and Idaho, has two sets of regulations: one for moose, sheep, and goat and a second for deer, elk, and antelope. Montana’s application process is available online or on paper. The online system charges a non-refundable 2% fee as well as a $1.25 convenience fee which is well worth the money. The tag fees are charged at the time of application for online or paper applications, but will be refunded in the event you do not draw. Montana has a bonus point system where each year you apply and you pay the optional $20 bonus point fee you will enter the drawing with all previously accumulated bonus points and you will be awarded a point if unsuccessful. For every bonus point you have, you will have a greater chance in the drawing for that species.
Montana has Rocky Mountain Bighorns, moose, Mountain goats, elk, Mule deer, Whitetails, and antelope. Montana is best known for producing more 180 plus Bighorns than any other state! The drawing odds are generally between 1 in 70 to 1 in 150 from year to year. Some of the best sheep units are physically easy and with very liberal hunt dates, it’s hard to beat! This is a “must apply for” state for giant Rockys! They have plenty of goats as well with great success rates and good drawing odds. Their moose are also good with some 40 plus bulls available. Although not as good as Colorado and Idaho, if you want a Shiras moose, Montana should be on your list of states to apply in. If you need a good goat or moose and are in shape, apply!
Montana is a unique state in that non-resident hunters can be guaranteed elk and/or deer tags through an outfitter. If you want to go with an outfitter anyway this is a win/win situation! Outfitter sponsored tags cost a few hundred dollars more, but are worth it, since you will be able to plan your hunt knowing you have a tag! The extra cost of these non-resident deer and elk licenses fund Montana’s “Block Management” program which allows the public to hunt private land for free.
Montana has some great elk in some units. Archery hunting is the secret to success as the hunting season is long and in the middle of the rut. The best bulls are not in the wilderness areas but are found in the center to eastern half of the state. Private land can be an issue in some units, but there is enough public land in most units to hunt and with good maps, you will do fine. With nearly 60% drawing odds for the general tag and special archery tags that are a guaranteed draw once you have the general tag, it is one of the “must apply for” elk tags in the West when hunting with a bow!
The deer and antelope hunting is not great for quality, but is awesome for quantity. If you enjoy seeing literally hundreds of deer then Montana is your state! Book a deer hunt with a guaranteed tag and hunt the rut in November with a rifle. They are relatively cheap hunts with a high success rate and a chance for a great experience for an average buck! There is some good Whitetail hunting also. Antelope hunting in Montana can be summed up as a large quantity of average bucks.
The one downside to applying for Montana’s deer and elk tags is that after you apply for, and hopefully draw, the general deer and/or elk license, you are then eligible to apply for some premium hunts with terrible odds. We don’t recommend applying for the general deer or elk license if you only want to hunt one of the premium rifle elk units or deer units as the odds of drawing don’t justify the cost. Montana has plenty of opportunity for everyone, it is a “must apply for” state.