Montana Unit 203:elk draw odds & harvest
3 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 203. 2021: 75 tags, 129 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 203
Unit 203Neighbor units
Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts
Harvest success, 3 yr
5–8%
Herd · 2021
949
population
Compare species at a glanceShow
Hunt codes
Best draw odds
- Elk100% drew
- Deer28% drew
- Bighorn sheep0% drew
Harvest success, 3 yr
- Elk5–8%
- Deer5–8%
- Bighorn sheep100%
Hardest draw in Unit 2032011 draw
ELK B LICENSE 203-805 drew, 115 applied.
One of Montana's hardest elk draws: 31st hardest of 563 in 2011.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 203
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 203-80 | 1 of 30 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 203-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk Permit | 33 of 33 drew |
| ELK PERMIT 203-01 | 0 of 14 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, 2004–2020
% successAll hunters3–12%
10%
12%
12%
8%
8%
6%
4%
6%
3%
4%
5%
5%
8%
8%
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'14'15'16'18'20
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Herd unit 203
Population estimate 2021
949
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2021
18.2%
Population estimateRising
20192021
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Falling
200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Before you apply
- Leftovers
- “Elk Permit 6/15/2026 - 7/15/2026”
- Tag fee
- “Elk B - Drawing $275.00 June 1”
- Tag fee
- “Elk B License - Drawing only $25.00 $25.00 $25.00 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 · 2021
- ELK PERMIT 203-00Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK PERMIT 203-00Season DatesOct 23–Nov 28
- ELK PERMIT 203-00Traditional Muzzleloader Season DatesDec 11–Dec 19
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 203and 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 203into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 203 hunt pack
One file, layered: the unit boundary, with each elk hunt's draw odds and harvest success attached to the unit.
- Unit boundary
- Draw odds per hunt
- Harvest success per hunt
Unit 203 · ELK B LICENSE 203-80
1 of 30 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026