Montana Unit 285:elk draw odds & harvest
6 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 285. 2026: 30 tags, 228 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 285
Unit 285Neighbor units
Hardest draw in Unit 2852011 draw
ELK B LICENSE 285-8025 drew, 199 applied.
109th hardest of 563 Montana elk draws in 2011.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 285
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 285-01 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk B License | 6 of 50 drew |
| ELK B LICENSE 285-02 | 12 of 12 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 285-80 | 9 of 85 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 285-81 | 5 of 31 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 285-20 | 20 of 48 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 285-21 | 83 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, 2004–2022
% successAll hunters3–11%
9%
10%
11%
8%
9%
8%
10%
7%
4%
5%
3%
7%
8%
6%
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'14'15'16'18'22
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Herd unit 285
Population estimate 2024
206
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2025
33%
Population estimateFlat
20232024
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 285-01ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK B LICENSE 285-01GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK B LICENSE 285-01HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 285and 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 285into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 285 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 285 · ELK B LICENSE 285-01
6 of 50 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026