Montana Bonus Points Explained: How They Work for 2027 Draws

Montana uses bonus points only for limited-entry permit draws — moose, sheep, goat, bison, and certain deer and elk permits. They do not apply to the general big-game combination license lottery, which is a preference-point system. Understanding the difference prevents wasted applications and helps you target the right hunts.

What Are Bonus Points in Montana?

Bonus points give you extra entries in the random draw for limited permits. Each point equals one additional chance. If you have three bonus points, your name goes into the hat four times — once for your application and three more for your points. Montana awards one bonus point per species group every year you apply unsuccessfully. You can also buy up to two bonus points per species group per year without applying, but purchased points cost extra and do not guarantee faster odds in highly competitive draws.

Montana divides bonus points into species groups: deer/elk, moose, sheep, goat, and bison. Points earned or purchased for one group do not transfer to another. If you apply for a bighorn sheep permit and do not draw, you earn a sheep bonus point. That point helps only in future sheep draws, not in moose or elk permit draws.

How Montana Bonus Points Differ from Preference Points

Montana uses preference points for the general big-game combination license lottery, which nonresidents enter to unlock access to general deer and elk tags. In that system, applicants with the most preference points draw first. One or two points often guarantee a combination license. Bonus points, by contrast, work only for limited permits and provide extra random chances rather than priority. Even with ten moose bonus points, you can be outdrawn by a first-time applicant — though your odds are better.

This distinction matters when planning your Montana applications. If your goal is a general elk hunt, focus on preference points for the combination license. If you want a trophy moose, sheep, or goat hunt, accumulate bonus points for those species and apply annually. Mixing up the two systems leads to confusion and missed opportunities.

Earning and Buying Bonus Points

You earn one bonus point automatically when you apply for a limited permit and do not draw. The point posts to your account after the draw results are published. You do not need to take additional action. Montana also allows you to purchase up to two bonus points per species group per year without submitting an application. The 2027 price is $50 per point for nonresidents and $5 per point for residents. Purchased points must be bought during the application period, typically from mid-February through the deadline in mid-March.

Buying points makes sense only if you are committed to applying for that species over many years. For sheep, goat, and moose, odds remain low even with a decade of points. Purchasing points front-loads your investment but does not improve your odds faster than applying annually. For deer and elk permits in mid-tier units, applying each year and earning free points often delivers better value than paying to accelerate.

Which Hunts Use Bonus Points

Bonus points apply to all limited-entry permit draws in Montana. This includes moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and bison, which are the most coveted and competitive. Bonus points also apply to certain controlled deer and elk permits — archery either-sex tags in popular units, breaks rifle permits, and late-season antlerless hunts. General deer and elk licenses available with the combination license do not use bonus points. Over-the-counter deer B tags and leftover permits do not require points.

If you are targeting a specific elk or deer unit that requires a controlled permit, check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regulations to confirm whether that hunt is limited-entry. Some units offer general-season opportunity with the combination license and do not require a separate permit. Others require a permit draw and bonus points apply. The distinction is not always obvious from the hunt name alone.

Maximizing Your Bonus Points Strategy

Apply for your top-choice hunt every year. Montana draws are random with bonus points providing extra entries, so applying for second-choice or easier units does not preserve points — you lose your points if you draw any permit. Choose the hunt you truly want most. For moose, sheep, and goat, expect to apply for a decade or more before drawing, even with maximum points. For controlled deer and elk permits, odds vary widely by unit. Some archery elk permits draw at 5-10% with a few points. Others remain under 1% even with ten.

Buying points without applying makes sense only if you are not yet ready to hunt. If you cannot take time off in 2027 but want to build points for a 2030 hunt, purchasing keeps you in the game. If you can hunt any year you draw, apply instead of buying. The application fee is similar to the point price, and you have a chance to draw immediately rather than waiting.

Bonus Points and Party Applications

Montana allows party applications for controlled hunts, but the bonus-point mechanism works differently than in some Western states. When applying as a party, the computer averages the party's bonus points and rounds down. If one hunter has ten points and one has zero, the party applies with five points. Each party member gets six total entries — one base entry plus five bonus entries. This lowers the odds for the high-point applicant and raises them for the low-point applicant.

Party applications make sense when hunting with family or friends matters more than maximizing individual draw odds. If you have built points for years and want to hunt solo or with another high-point applicant, do not add a zero-point partner. If you are introducing a new hunter and are willing to sacrifice some odds for the shared experience, a party application works. After the draw, successful party members must hunt together in the assigned unit.

FAQ — Montana Bonus Points

Do bonus points apply to Montana's general elk and deer combo license?

No. The combination license uses a preference-point system, and most nonresidents draw with one or two points. Bonus points apply only to limited-entry permit draws for species like moose, sheep, goat, and certain controlled deer and elk hunts.

Can I buy bonus points without applying?

Yes. You can purchase up to two bonus points per species group per year during the application period. Nonresidents pay $50 per point. Residents pay $5. Purchased points are added to your total but do not include a draw entry for that year.

Do my bonus points carry over if I draw a tag?

No. If you draw any limited permit in a species group, all bonus points for that group reset to zero. Points for other species groups remain intact. If you draw a moose permit, you lose moose points but keep elk, sheep, and goat points.

How many bonus points do I need to draw a Montana moose tag?

Odds vary by hunt, but most moose permits require a decade or more of applications even with maximum points. Montana moose draws are some of the hardest in the West. Having 15 bonus points improves your odds compared to zero, but does not guarantee success.

Can I apply for multiple species in the same year?

Yes. You can apply for moose, sheep, goat, deer permits, and elk permits in the same year. Each application is independent, and drawing one does not affect your chances in others — though drawing any permit resets points for that species group.

Are Montana bonus points worth buying if I live out of state?

It depends on your timeline. If you plan to apply for moose, sheep, or goat for 10-20 years, buying points annually builds your odds. If you want a deer or elk permit in a mid-tier unit, applying each year without buying extra points often makes more sense. Purchased points cost $100 per year per species for two points, which adds up quickly.

For more on planning Montana hunts and comparing draw odds across units, see Montana Elk Draw Odds Analysis and Montana General Combo License Breakdown. If you are weighing Montana against other states, read Wyoming vs Montana Elk Hunting and Best First-Time Elk Hunts by State.