Party Application Question

Hey guys,

I have a question about the MT application process as it relates to party applications for non-residents. I've already searched the MT Fish and Game site and didn't find an adequate answer.

Here's the scenario. Three guys from out of state with zero preference/bonus points want to go on a hunt in a LE Elk Permit area with decent odds (900-20). We would all prefer to be able to hunt but would go individually if only one person draws at tag. In a party application, do all hunters have to draw for the group to draw for the party to get drawn or does only 1 person in the party have to draw for the party to draw. In short, does applying as a party help or hurt our odds individually?

Different states take different approaches to this topic and I haven't had any luck finding the answer...even my outfitter didn't know.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

LHP

You need a better outfitter

I am an outfitter in an area that you need the 900-20 to hunt elk in . I agree that your outfitter should know how it works. When you apply as a party your group is assigned a number. If that number is pulled then you all receive a permit. It doesnt hurt your odds but the jury is out in my opinion if it helps. I beleive it helps when one of your party has points then fwp averages the points to give you all a better chance. Your odds of drawing the permit with no points is roughly 60%. Thats what our hunters have been averaging the past few years.good luck.

It depends on what you mean by 'help'.

It helps the odds of the entire group drawing, it hurts the odds of at least one person in the group drawing, and it keeps the odds identical for you as an individual drawing.

Like Tpiscopo said, rather than each persons name being in the hat, if you do a party app they combine everybody in to one individual entry. If that entry gets pulled, every name on it gets one of the remaining permits. So if I apply by myself, and you apply with three of your buddies, assuming the same resident status and bonus points, we have identical odds.

My family always applies for the same tags, but we never do party apps. By applying individually it increases the odds that someone will be hunting each year, but we almost never all draw in the same year this way.