Montana Unit 281:deer draw odds & harvest
4 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 25 tags, 246 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 281
Unit 281Neighbor units
Hardest draw in Unit 2812026 draw
DEER B LICENSE 281-0025 tags, 246 applied, 10% drew.
One of Montana's hardest deer draws: 35th hardest of 345 in 2026.
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 281
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| DEER B LICENSE 281-00 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Deer B License | 7 of 61 drew |
| DEER B LICENSE 281-01 | 10 of 18 drew | |
| DEER PERMIT 281-40 | 116 of 116 drew | |
| DEER PERMIT 281-50 | Antlered Buck Mule Deer · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Deer Permit | 93 of 93 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, 2004–2017
% successAll hunters4–15%
10%
10%
15%
10%
7%
6%
10%
7%
4%
5%
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'13'17
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (mule deer) 2025
63.6%
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (whitetail) 2025
65.6%
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (mule deer) (%)Rising
2004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Harvested bucks with 4 or more points (whitetail) (%)Falling
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 281-00ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- DEER B LICENSE 281-00GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- DEER B LICENSE 281-00HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 281and 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 281into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 281 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 281 · DEER B LICENSE 281-00
7 of 61 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026