Montana Unit 261:deer draw odds & harvest
4 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 10 tags, 103 to 1,007 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 261
Unit 261Neighbor units
Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts
Harvest success, 3 yr
2–3%
Compare species at a glanceShow
Hunt codes
Best draw odds
- Elk81% drew
- Deer100% drew
- Moose0% drew
- Bighorn sheep0% drew
Harvest success, 3 yr
- Elk14–16%
- Deer2–3%
- Moose0–100%
- Bighorn sheep100%
Hardest draw in Unit 2612026 draw
DEER PERMIT 261-5010 tags, 1,007 applied, under 1% drew.
One of Montana's hardest deer draws: 5th hardest of 345 in 2026.
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 261
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| DEER B LICENSE 261-00 | 11 of 28 drew | |
| DEER B LICENSE 261-01 | Antlerless Mule Deer · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Deer B License | 8 of 13 drew |
| DEER B LICENSE 299-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Deer B License | 83 of 83 drew |
| DEER PERMIT 261-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Deer Permit | 0 of 133 drew |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest & herd
How hunters didand how the herd is doing.
Harvest success by hunt, 2004–2025
% successAll hunters2–11%
9%
11%
7%
7%
8%
7%
7%
10%
6%
6%
3%
3%
2%
2%
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'13'17'19'21'23'25
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (mule deer) 2024
83.3%
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (whitetail) 2025
72.9%
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (mule deer) (%)Rising
2004200520062007200820092010201120122014201520162017201820202024
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (whitetail) (%)Rising
2004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Before you apply
- Leftovers
- “Deer Permit 6/15/2026 - 7/15/2026”
- Tag fee
- “Deer B- Drawing $80.00 June 1”
- Tag fee
- “Deer B License - Drawing only $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 June 1”
- Points
- “Those who do not apply for a combination license may purchase one preference point for $100 over the counter from July 1 through December 31.”
Rules for 2026.
Season dates · 2026
- DEER B LICENSE 261-01ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- DEER B LICENSE 261-01GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- DEER B LICENSE 261-01HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- DEER B LICENSE 299-00ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- DEER B LICENSE 299-00GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- DEER B LICENSE 299-00HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- DEER PERMIT 261-50ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- DEER PERMIT 261-50GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- DEER PERMIT 261-50HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 261and the units around it
Neighbors with a FarWide page open on click.
Public land & access
Each program opens on the state's site. Check on-the-ground signage.
Offline maps
Take Unit 261into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 261 hunt pack
One file, layered: the unit boundary, with each deer hunt's draw odds and harvest success attached to the unit.
- Unit boundary
- Draw odds per hunt
- Harvest success per hunt
Unit 261 · DEER B LICENSE 261-00
11 of 28 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026