I know you live here, so do I, doesn't mean you know everything And your buddy got lucky drawing and you know it. Your buddy's experience is not the normal The normal is 15 plus points for the "worst" unit in the state
You need to look at an updated list for what is required for nonresidents to draw a tag A mid to low unit such as 4a takes 19 points for a nonresident to guarantee
Pick a different unit Actually there are general deer hunts that nonresidents have a way better chance at drawing than residents Seems like the days of hunting together are almost over (Idaho first come as an example)
Most of 23 is not the classic whitetail country you see in az It's a lot thicker and not really desert terrain There are really big bucks there though There are whitetails in elk country but again thick stuff to glass
Do what? Put collars on animals? I don't know about Montana but Utah and Arizona have been putting collars on. I would guess most states are but it would depend on what they are trying to study.