MT Points

[Mule3006Elk]

I have no points but want to start accumulating.
Is it as easy as apply for license and pay for 1 point.
Do I have to apply for a specific hunt?
Get license fees back if not drawn (my understanding).

Thanks

 

[Alabama]

Montana now has a points only option, it started last year. It used to cost quite a bit of money to get deer/elk points unless you used the general license to hunt. I think they are $25 each during the points only period.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Montana now has a points only option, it started last year. It used to cost quite a bit of money to get deer/elk points unless you used the general license to hunt. I think they are $25 each during the points only period.

Nice. I'll have to look into that.

 

[Fink]

Sweet.. Was actually getting ready to ask this question myself.. Do they offer preference point and bonus point only options? Or can you only gain the preference point by applying? My understanding is the combo tag is drawn by preference point, where as the limited units are drawn by bonus point?

I'd like to eventually bow hunt the breaks, and bring my surface drive up, and come in by lake.

 

[Alabama]

The preference point is for drawing the elk/deer combination license and it's $50. This allows you to hunt general deer or elk or both.
I'm not sure if you have to buy this point before the March 15th deadline.

BP info page: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/drawings/bonusPoints.html

 

[andrew12gauge]

The preference point is for drawing the elk/deer combination license and it's $50. This allows you to hunt general deer or elk or both.
I'm not sure if you have to buy this point before the March 15th deadline.

BP info page: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/drawings/bonusPoints.html

That's incorrect, you can buy that point or just a deer preference point, or you can buy bonus points for all of the special draws


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[CoHiCntry]

I gave up with the last price increase. Was getting hard to justify. Left some points on the table. Maybe shouldn’t have... idk?

 

[Alabama]

That's incorrect, you can buy that point or just a deer preference point, or you can buy bonus points for all of the special draws


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The preference point is for deer combo, elk combo, or big game (deer/elk) combo licenses, that's why I said deer or elk or both. I wasn't sure when you could buy that point.

 

[Alabama]

I gave up with the last price increase. Was getting hard to justify. Left some points on the table. Maybe shouldn’t have... idk?

It says points don't expire now. I think they used to after 2 years of not applying. Did you check to see if they are still there?

 

[CoHiCntry]

It says points don't expire now. I think they used to after 2 years of not applying. Did you check to see if they are still there?

I saw that too. I quit applying and lost my points before they started doing this. I checked...

 

[Alabama]

I saw that too. I quit applying and lost my points before they started doing this. I checked...

That sucks. I honestly don't know if they are worth buying or not. I think a ton of people will start buying them and it will be hard to draw a decent limited tag, but with Montana's system you always have a chance.

 

[Fink]

Circling back on this... Understanding that preference points are for the general tag, and bonus points are for limited entry, does anyone know if you can pick up both during the bonus point application period from July 1 - Sept 30? I read the info on MT's site, about bonus points, but it didnt specifically mention anything on preference points. I went in today, and tried to buy a preference point, but the option is not available, which leads me to believe that both are available in July.
Can anyone confirm? Either way, I'll call MT fish and game today to get a better handle on the process.

 

[CODAK]

You can by either or both during that period

 

[johnsd16]

Yep, I bought both BPs and a PP last year in October. I think they extended it from the end of September to the end of October.

 

[andrew12gauge]

Yep, I bought both BPs and a PP last year in October. I think they extended it from the end of September to the end of October.

Last year was the first year you could buy points in Montana, prior to that you had to apply in order to get a point


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[EOHunter]

Montana has about the most confusing online regulations I have ever seen. Just looking at the map trying to get a starting point is awful. They have a thousand different lines going everywhere and its hard to decipher what is a region boundary, unit boundary, county, highway. I understand the whole color coding, but there are so many colors it hurts my eyes! Sure you can select things from the menu but there are a ton of options. It needs simplified for people like me! What is PTHFV?

It has taken me a long time just to figure out what areas I would look at and what is available. The license fee structure is a little weird also. If I want to deer hunt as a nonresident, I believe I apply for a deer combination (which is weird that it is a combination with fishing and not some other species to hunt) which is $625 plus I can buy the bonus point option. Then if I draw to I have to buy a deer permit also?

 

[johnsd16]

Last year was the first year you could buy points in Montana, prior to that you had to apply in order to get a point


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Yep, and that’s why I bought a PP and bonus for deer and elk ($100 total) since is was my first year in the last 3 years to not hunt MT (2017). I submitted my big game combo app today and will draw since I have 1PP. The MT draw will get interesting in the future now as guys may bank a couple PP in anticipation of wanting a general tag or trying for LE tags. Their LE tag system and the 80% refund still sucks if you don’t want the general tag if you don’t draw the LE permit. I bet more and more guys bank bonus points and eventually start trying for the LE permits down the road. Maybe MT thought it was time for another money grab by adding point only options the year of the big bulls were killed!!

 

[bowedark]

I had several species of points in Mt. give them up....... after Mt. through all the nonresidents.......that pay to run their system.........same pool as the residence & limited to 10% of the tags which has never occurs.......in my opinion are worth it...I do draw a every year without points

 

[NDHunter]

Montana has about the most confusing online regulations I have ever seen. Just looking at the map trying to get a starting point is awful. They have a thousand different lines going everywhere and its hard to decipher what is a region boundary, unit boundary, county, highway. I understand the whole color coding, but there are so many colors it hurts my eyes! Sure you can select things from the menu but there are a ton of options. It needs simplified for people like me! What is PTHFV?

It has taken me a long time just to figure out what areas I would look at and what is available. The license fee structure is a little weird also. If I want to deer hunt as a nonresident, I believe I apply for a deer combination (which is weird that it is a combination with fishing and not some other species to hunt) which is $625 plus I can buy the bonus point option. Then if I draw to I have to buy a deer permit also?

Yea Montana is definitely a pain in the ass to learn. Took me quite awhile as well to learn it.

If you only want to hunt deer, then yes, apply for the deer combination. If you draw, then you are good to go. The deer permit is only for the limited entry tags and you have to apply for those on your initial app.