Montana Unit 217:elk draw odds & harvest
4 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 217. 2026: 25 to 175 tags, 57 to 694 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 217
Unit 217Neighbor units
Hardest draw in Unit 2172026 draw
ELK PERMIT 217-10175 tags, 694 applied, 25% drew.
197th hardest of 563 Montana elk draws in 2026.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 217
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2018 | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 217-01 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk B License | 51 of 136 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 217-02 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Aug 15–Sep 4Elk B License | 77 of 77 drew | 150 |
| ELK PERMIT 217-10 | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk Permit | 18 of 187 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 217-11 | Brow-tined Bull or Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk Permit | 3 of 11 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, 2016–2020
% successAll hunters15–29%
29%
15%
23%
201620182020
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Herd unit 217
Population estimate 2024
800
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2025
65.2%
Population estimateRising
20192021202220232024
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Rising
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
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 · 2026
- ELK B LICENSE 217-01ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK B LICENSE 217-01GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK B LICENSE 217-01HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK B LICENSE 217-02ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK B LICENSE 217-02EARLY SEASON DATESAug 15–Sep 4
- ELK B LICENSE 217-02GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK B LICENSE 217-02HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK PERMIT 217-10ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK PERMIT 217-10GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK PERMIT 217-10HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK PERMIT 217-11ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK PERMIT 217-11GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK PERMIT 217-11HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 217and 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 217into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 217 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 217 · ELK B LICENSE 217-01
51 of 136 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026