Montana draw 2026

[Treeshark]

You could give fwp an unlimited budget and things would not improve with the current seasons and nonresident situation in Montana.

Are you reading those charts correctly?

Residents are the blue ones: way larger participation, way smaller contributions to funding.

 

[DFS]

Are you reading those charts correctly?

Residents are the blue ones: way larger participation, way smaller contributions to funding.

Yes I completely understand that you think more funding is better for wildlife. The way that Montana manages that is not the case.

 

[8andcounting]

You could give fwp an unlimited budget and things would not improve with the current seasons and nonresident situation in Montana.

I don’t think there’s a huge “NR situation” I think there’s a season structure situation and R situation. Time to look in the mirror

 

[Treeshark]

I don’t think there’s a huge “NR situation” I think there’s a season structure situation and R situation. Time to look in the mirror

The data appears to support this claim.

 

[DFS]

I don’t think there’s a huge “NR situation” I think there’s a season structure situation and R situation. Time to look in the mirror

When nonresidents can peruse the whole state during November and shoot anything that’s legal it’s a huge issue. Cut em just like ND does. I don’t need to look in the mirror I advocate for wildlife not hunters.

 

[Hem]

Musical chairs^
DFS aside...same players beating same drum.

 

[8andcounting]

When nonresidents can peruse the whole state during November and shoot anything that’s legal it’s a huge issue. Cut em just like ND does. I don’t need to look in the mirror I advocate for wildlife not hunters.

Why I said it’s a season structure situation . Needs to be pick your region/area no statewide

 

[El Jason]

This place is borderline toxic anymore.

 

[brockel]

This place is borderline toxic anymore.

Wait till politics get involved in this

 

[NDGuy]

Oh boy I can’t wait to get some insightful information from this thread!

Opens….

 

[Forkyfinder]

The data appears to support this claim.

No, it doesnt.

Region 6 and 7 in MT have more deer killed by NR than Wyoming has state wide. By a big margin.

 

[sclancy27]

Let's compare to Wyoming. WY had ~230,000 mule deer in 2024, MT had ~250,000 mule deer in 2024.

WY total MD harvest = 14,179 bucks, 38.4% of MD bucks were harvested by NR

MT total MD harvest = 33,627 bucks, 30.9% harvested by NR.

Remember, MT had a similarly sized MD population to WY and harvested 2.4X the number of bucks.

 

[SAJ-99]

This place is borderline toxic anymore.

We crossed that line a while ago.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Let's compare to Wyoming. WY had ~230,000 mule deer in 2024, MT had ~250,000 mule deer in 2024.

WY total MD harvest = 14,179 bucks, 38.4% of MD bucks were harvested by NR

MT total MD harvest = 33,627 bucks, 30.9% harvested by NR.

Remember, MT had a similarly sized MD population to WY and harvested 2.4X the number of bucks.

Sure - lets talk about a responsible management for a states declining resource.

Whats the trend of lic# and how does that compare to here? Did they reduce the quantity hunters in the field? How do you do that here?

 

[406elkaholic]

Been a few years since I’ve been up in 700. Curious on how much more pressure it’s seeing with 410 going LE.

The worst i have seen it as far as hunter numbers go

 

[MLaird]

Been a few years since I’ve been up in 700. Curious on how much more pressure it’s seeing with 410 going LE.

The worst i have seen it as far as hunter numbers go

I had never hunted 700 until last year when I drew the either sex elk permit. The Breaks are absolutely amazing and I loved the chance to spend time there. The number of hunters was absolutely disgusting.