Montana Unit 502: Trophy unitelk draw odds & harvest
7 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 502. 2026: 5 to 1,800 tags, 195 to 1,259 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 502
Unit 502Neighbor units
Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts
Harvest success, 3 yr
11–26%
Herd · 2025
190
population
Compare species at a glanceShow
Hunt codes
Best draw odds
- Elk100% drew
- Deer100% drew
- Bighorn sheep100% drew
Harvest success, 3 yr
- Elk11–26%
- Deer29–37%
- Bighorn sheep5–9%
Hardest draw in Unit 5022026 draw
ELK PERMIT 502-205 tags, 195 applied, 3% drew.
One of Montana's hardest elk draws: 15th hardest of 563 in 2026.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 502
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2018 | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 005-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk B License | 712 of 712 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 502-00 | 0 tags | 0 | |
| 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 502-15 | 22 of 22 drew | ||
| ELK PERMIT 502-20 | Either-sex Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk Permit | 0 of 27 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 595-21 | Either-sex Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk Permit | 974 of 974 drew | 1,800 |
| 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 hunters5–26%
7%
14%
13%
7%
11%
13%
5%
8%
18%
19%
26%
11%
11%
'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 502
Population estimate 2025
190
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2025
75%
Population estimateRising
2022202320242025
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Flat
200620092012201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
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 005-00ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK B LICENSE 005-00GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK B LICENSE 005-00HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK B LICENSE 005-00LATE SEASON DATESNov 30–Feb 15
- ELK PERMIT 502-20ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
- ELK PERMIT 502-20GENERAL SEASON DATESOct 24–Nov 29
- ELK PERMIT 502-20HERITAGE MUZZLELOADER SEASON DATESDec 12–Dec 20
- ELK PERMIT 595-21ARCHERY ONLY SEASON DATESSep 5–Oct 18
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 502and 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 502into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 502 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 502 · ELK B LICENSE 005-00
712 of 712 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026