Montana Unit 261:elk draw odds & harvest
7 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 261, 262. 2026: 50 tags, 117 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 261
Unit 261Neighbor units
Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts
Harvest success, 3 yr
14–16%
Herd · 2022
733
population
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 2612013 draw
ELK B LICENSE 261-8050 drew, 275 applied.
152nd hardest of 563 Montana elk draws in 2013.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 261
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 261-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk B License | 11 of 56 drew |
| ELK B LICENSE 261-01 | 42 of 52 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 261-80 | 17 of 104 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 262-01 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Aug 15–Sep 4Elk B License | 97 of 148 drew |
| ELK PERMIT 261-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk Permit | 8 of 32 drew |
| ELK PERMIT 261-01 | 4 of 12 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 261-70 | 17 of 26 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, 2004–2018
% successAll hunters7–26%
16%
17%
26%
19%
9%
7%
12%
13%
14%
14%
15%
14%
16%
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'14'15'16'18
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Herd unit 261, 262
Population estimate 2022
733
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2025
63.9%
Population estimateFalling
201920212022
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Rising
2004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
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 261-00ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK B LICENSE 261-00GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK B LICENSE 261-00HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK B LICENSE 262-01ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK B LICENSE 262-01EARLY SEASON DATESAug 15–Sep 4
- ELK B LICENSE 262-01GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK B LICENSE 262-01HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK B LICENSE 262-01LATE SEASON DATESNov 30–Jan 8
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 elk hunt's draw odds and harvest success attached to the unit.
- Unit boundary
- Draw odds per hunt
- Harvest success per hunt
Unit 261 · ELK B LICENSE 261-00
11 of 56 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026