Montana Unit 500:elk draw odds & harvest
5 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 500. 2021: 80 to 4,000 tags, 212 to 3,445 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 500
Unit 500Neighbor units
Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts
Harvest success, 3 yr
11–17%
Herd · 2021
372
population
Compare species at a glanceShow
Hunt codes
Best draw odds
- Elk100% drew
- Deer100% drew
- Pronghorn84% drew
- Bighorn sheep100% drew
Harvest success, 3 yr
- Elk11–17%
- Deer30–58%
- Pronghorn57–78%
- Bighorn sheep3–6%
Hardest draw in Unit 5002021 draw
ELK PERMIT 500-2080 tags, 212 applied, 33% drew.
230th hardest of 563 Montana elk draws in 2021.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 500
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2013 | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 500-80 | 9 of 12 drew | ||
| ELK B LICENSE 595-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk B License | 386 of 386 drew | 3,500 |
| ELK PERMIT 500-15 | 31 of 31 drew | ||
| ELK PERMIT 500-20 | Either-sex Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk Permit | 5 of 84 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 900-20 | Either-sex Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk Permit | 1,418 of 1,422 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 hunters8–23%
10%
13%
12%
23%
9%
11%
12%
17%
8%
12%
11%
13%
17%
'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 500
Population estimate 2021
372
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2021
60.5%
Population estimateRising
201920202021
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Rising
20042005200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
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 B LICENSE 595-00Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK B LICENSE 595-00Season DatesOct 23–Feb 15
- ELK PERMIT 500-20Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK PERMIT 500-20Season DatesOct 23–Nov 28
- ELK PERMIT 500-20Traditional Muzzleloader Season DatesDec 11–Dec 19
- ELK PERMIT 900-20Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 500and 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 500into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 500 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 500 · ELK B LICENSE 500-80
9 of 12 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026