LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-05 AT 08:03AM (MST)[p]You should reserch on the "point" system in MT before you start applying for anything there. Its not like a prefrence point system in other states but rather, a "bonus" point which means they put your name in the "hat" as many times as you have points for... BUT you have to remember they do that for everyone else too! So in reality your odds decrease exponetially with fewer points, but remain basically constant with max points.
Lets put it this way in premier elk units there will be approxiamtly 3000 people applying for 100 tags in each unit, and about 2000 of those will probably have 2 points this year... You can do the math...
First you have to draw a combo tag to even be able to apply for the "premeir" units, then you have to apply a second time for the "special" tags and be unsucessful to get a prefrence point. Now if you want to just build points, thats a lot of hope to have. You odds of drawing the combo tag is about every other year to start with.
Even as a resident its a long shot for most of the "premier" areas if you put in every year and get the "point", couple that with only 10% of the quota going to NR you're pretty much sunk.
I really don't think MT offers any "premier" deer units. You might be able to find the odd 190ish deer, but the norm would probably be in the 180's for a good buck in the best units.
As far as elk, you got the breaks, and the elkhorns, and maybe a late gardiner hunt. You odds of killing a nice 330-350 bull are area better than they are in the rest of the state, but pretty much every are in the state holds a bull or two that big, but if you want bigger... I would look for another state. Those areas are a long shot even for the residents that get 90% of the tags. Probably the best option you have for getting a tag and hunting big bulls in a premier unit would be a breaks archery tag. BUT those are unlimited and there is a lot of yahoos running around there now.
If you want to hunt big anything I would not waste the headache of applying for MT... IF you want to see lots of game, and get to hunt the majority of the state, while have a decent chance at killing a nice representitive animal, then go for it. You don't need a premier tag to get it done...
All in all if I was you I would send my money in for deer points in CO, and send my money in for elk points in UT, NM, or AZ... which are a huge long shot for a premier hunt as well but will offer much better quality. I wouldn't plan on hunting a monster bull area with a gun anytime in the next 20 years in MT.
I've put in for premier units in MT for 15 years now, three as a NR and the rest as a resident... I've drawn exactly 0 tags! So, Good luck!