Montana Draw/Bonus Point Question

I haven't hunted Montana since 1998. My first horse hunt with my own horses. Wanted horses for years just so I could archery hunt Montana bulls. Got em, did it once and since they have been in every Western state but Montana. And I miss Montana.

So my question is about the NR Bonus Point system. Is there a Bonus point option or do I have to buy the combo tag, then apply for bonus points? I researched this right after Montana started their point system and it seemed I would be out the combo price if I just wanted to hunt a draw area.

Another question. The area I used to hunt was a controlled rifle hunt, but not archery. Now you have to get the "Breaks" archery tag to hunt it archery. If you draw the controlled rifle tag can you hunt the archery season also?? My plan would be to apply for the rifle tag first if I can hunt archery also, then the unlimited archery tag second. But if I can't hunt archery with the controlled tag I may just opt for the archery tag.

No Montana this year but if there is a Bonus Point option for the controlled draw I would do that.

Thanks

The only way you can hunt Archery elk in the breaks is with the limited draw permit. Drawing the rifle permit does not grant you a archery permit.
Seems to me you can buy bonus points without applying for a Combo License.

I'm certainly no expert on Montana regs, but I did some homework before submitting my 1st Montana application earlier today.

If I understand the NR elk regs correctly:

- You can buy a preference point for $50, but it appears the NR combo tags go undersubscribed. If so, what is the point? (pun intended)

- You have to apply for a general combo tag (elk or elk/deer) in order to apply for a limited draw permit. If you fail to draw the limited permit, you can buy a bonus point for $20. You can also turn in your general tag for an 80% refund and keep the bonus point. You cannot buy a bonus point without being in the draw.

- Archery tags in the Breaks are draw only. Hunt codes this year are 410-21 (south) and 620-21 (north).

I believe this is accurate information...but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong...LOL!

I also checked the regs for 410-20 which is the rifle tag for this district, you can bow hunt as well. It appears that if you draw 620-20 you can only bow hunt. The districts I hunted in the past always allowed bow hunting with a rifle tag. 620-20 is the first one I have come across that does not allow you to bow hunt.

_There is a bonus point for controlled hunts as well as a point option for just the general tags. Don't get suckered into paying for the point for the general tag because the last couple years it was 100% draw odds on the elk and combo. Also be aware if you apply for the big 3 to know what the real draw odds are VS what is in the booklet. They are roughly 400% worse than they publish because of the resident to nonresident application ratio and then the 10% cap
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