Montana draw 2026

[8andcounting]

If we hold a NR combo tag I think we can buy 2 b tags per species - 1 if no combo

I could be wrong on that . I think for deer for sure it’s only 1 if you don’t hold a combo tag

 

[antlerradar]

Interesting. Theres quite a contingent of people around that somehow think that no one does that and the only people buying b tags are hunting a combo tag.

I have encountered quite a few NR that only had B tags.
One time there was three NR from OK and one guy from Billings setting up camp at the parking area when I walked out. One of the guys from OK was quite chatty and was asking me all kinds of questions about what to expect in terms of bucks. He also gave me lots of other information. The guy from Billings was less then welcoming. I got a bad vibe from that group of hunters so I called the warden, and he checked out the camp the next day. OK guys only had doe tags. From what the OK guy told me, I am confident that they didn't make the trip to shoot a few does. They pulled out the day the warden stopped by, OK guy told me that they planned to stay the whole week.

 

[8andcounting]

I have encountered quite a few NR that only had B tags.
One time there was three NR from OK and one guy from Billings setting up camp at the parking area when I walked out. One of the guys from OK was quite chatty and was asking me all kinds of questions about what to expect in terms of bucks. He also gave me lots of other information. The guy from Billings was less then welcoming. I got a bad vibe from that group of hunters so I called the warden, and he checked out the camp the next day. OK guys only had doe tags. From what the OK guy told me, I am confident that they didn't make the trip to shoot a few does. They pulled out the day the warden stopped by, OK guy told me that they planned to stay the whole week.

So what you’re saying is the Billings guy was basically “outfitting” them and had r tag/tags they were gonna fill on his behalf .

 

[Forkyfinder]

So what you’re saying is the Billings guy was basically “outfitting” them and had r tag/tags they were gonna fill on his behalf .

Not suprising. On either account.

Im not sure how many hunters are here - neither is fwp.

But its way more than oft cited A tag quantities.

 

[8andcounting]

I’m sure there’s plenty of bs that goes on R and NR . With R tags being otc you know there’s folks filling A tags that aren’t there’s . With NR you know there’s folks going with that don’t have an A tag shooting bucks and someone is covering it or there putting a b tag on it risking it

 

[8andcounting]

I hope they all get caught karma is a bitch

 

[Roebuck]

The NR with only B tags thing probably doesn’t happen a lot, but one of the greatest adventures of my life was driving from California to Jordan, MT as a kid with my dad. To fill the only tag we had, a mulie doe.

 

[8andcounting]

The NR with only B tags thing probably doesn’t happen a lot.

More than you think . A cow elk tag for $270 is a steal these days

 

[Treeshark]

How much is a resident B elk tag?

 

[rmyoung1]

How much is a resident B elk tag?

 

[Forkyfinder]

How much is a resident B elk tag?

@Treeshark cheap enough that a lot of people buy them and never bother to hunt.

But in simpleton analysis - tag sales are all the same.

 

[brockel]

The NR with only B tags thing probably doesn’t happen a lot, but one of the greatest adventures of my life was driving from California to Jordan, MT as a kid with my dad. To fill the only tag we had, a mulie doe.

Happens WAY more than you know. Lots bring their bird dogs out and buy some b tags. Go deer hunting in the morning. Then bird hunt the afternoons

 

[antlerradar]

So what you’re saying is the Billings guy was basically “outfitting” them and had r tag/tags they were gonna fill on his behalf .

I strongly suspect he was. It was over 30 years ago, so I can't remember everything.
It was at my go to place on the Custer during the 90's. I have already shot the best buck in the place, and was not hunting, but was looking for his sheds from last year. I had spent all summer looking and come up short. Never did find them. When I got back to the truck the group of hunters were there. I was hard to avoid them. They were parked right next to me and setting up camp. First thing I noticed was all the camping gear was new Cabala's stuff. This was likely their first hunt that required a camp. One of the OK hunters approached me and started asking questions like how good was the hunting, any big bucks. I told him the truth, It was one of the best places on the forest, that I had shot the best buck, A tall 185 inch typical, but that there was several other 170 bucks. This made him very happy. The OK hunter also gave out lots of info. The hunting party was three hunters from OK, all friends and they other "friend" from Billings. The friend from Billings name was Chuck and he worked at one of the refineries. He was on vacation and had been hunting with some other friends of the OK guys the week before on the northern part of the forest and had done quite well on nice bucks. Chuck had also scouted this area and had seen some nice bucks here too. Asked if this area was as good as up north. I said it was and that made the OK guy happy. The OK guy was quite chatty and pleasant. Chuck was not, in fact he was stand offish and some what pissed that the OK guy was giving out so much info. Like I said, I left with a bad vibe about this group of hunters. I fully thought that they were hunting for quality bucks. All of OK guy's questions were about quality bucks and why would anyone be hunting for does there as more in likely you were going to have to pack anything you shot out on your back. Back then there was plenty of does you could shoot close to the road.
I call the warden that night and said this is a camp that needs to be checked out. He did and all the OK hunters only had doe tags, Chuck had both. No ticket were given as the hunters had yet to break any laws, but they pulled up and left. OK guy had told me that they planed to hit the area hard all week.
I strongly suspect that Chuck was illegal outfitting and OK hunters were using the doe tags as cover to be hunting, but were actually looking for bucks. The OK guy was so chatty because he was trying to find out if Chuck was screwing them and Chuck was pissed about this and that OK guy was giving out way to much info.

 

[shrapnel]

There’s a bunch of shenanigans that go on during hunting season, always has.

This is about drawing tags and I wish the FWP would go back to making you pay for your sheep, moose and goat permit at the time you applied and get all the casual “wannabes” out of the drawings and quit polluting the chances of the serious hunters

 

[antlerradar]

The NR with only B tags thing probably doesn’t happen a lot, but one of the greatest adventures of my life was driving from California to Jordan, MT as a kid with my dad. To fill the only tag we had, a mulie doe.

I have run into quite a few. Some of them are likely using the doe tags for cover to be hunting, but actually looking for bucks like the OK guys I ran into. Others are looking for some meat and an adventurer. Regardless, NR doe tags is one of, but not the only reason you see so many NR hunters in regions 6 & 7.

 

[8andcounting]

I have run into quite a few. Some of them are likely using the doe tags for cover to be hunting, but actually looking for bucks like the OK guys I ran into. Others are looking for some meat and an adventurer. Regardless, NR doe tags is one of, but not the only reason you see so many NR hunters in regions 6 & 7.

The lack of doe tags will hopefully help this . IMO a NR should never again be allowed to shoot a mule deer doe . But that’s just me

 

[TexanSam]

The lack of doe tags will hopefully help this . IMO a NR should never again be allowed to shoot a mule deer doe . But that’s just me

I don't know jack about conservation, but if Mule deer are struggling across the west, why is anyone shooting a mule deer doe? Legitimate question (don't crucify me plz)