Drawing Odds In Montana

[firedog]

We are putting in for Non Res Big Game combo License in Montana this year. The problem we are having is that Montana only allows five person parties. We have six putting in. We are going to split into two groups of three, 1 bonus point per group (2 points divided by 3 hunters equals .666 rounded up to one) With a bonus point per group what are the odds of both groups drawing tags?


P.S. this is a great site, just found it last week and glad I did

 

[paulc]

my geuss is that you are ok. for some reason it seems that you can normally draw at least every other year. take your chances. worst case you got 3 cooks.

 

[FTTPOW]

Firedog, welcome to Jesses. I've applied and drawn in Montana several times. It used to be that you stood a 40% chance of drawing on your first year. The second consecutive year, your odds were 95%.You get put in with the group of unsuccessful applicants from the previous year and they were the first ones drawn. You could pretty much count on applying in 2000 and getting turned down, then apply in 2001 and getting drawn. Last year I applied, purchased a bonus point and got drawn without having to wait a year. That coincided with them raising their sportsman combo substantially. I don't know if there were less applicants or if I just beat the odds last year. I've heard of groups having to split and only one group getting drawn. I don't know what can be done since your group is larger than what they allow for a party draw. It never hurts to call Fish,Wildlife and Parks to verify, just don't expect any miracles. Good luck in the draw. Where were you planning on hunting if you got drawn?

 

[firedog]

FTTPOW and Paulc, thanks for the info. We kind of figured we would be all right with a point per group but it would still be better if we could apply as a group. We will see how it turns out.

We are planning on hunting the SW part of the State. Outside of ALder I think is correct.