Montana Unit 520:elk draw odds & harvest
10 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 520. 2021: 25 to 4,000 tags, 78 to 3,445 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 520
Unit 520Neighbor units
Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts
Harvest success, 3 yr
16–20%
Herd · 2021
879
population
Compare species at a glanceShow
Hunt codes
Best draw odds
- Elk100% drew
- Deer100% drew
- Black bear1% drew
Hardest draw in Unit 5202021 draw
ELK PERMIT 520-2040 tags, 310 applied, 12% drew.
104th hardest of 563 Montana elk draws in 2021.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 520
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2018 | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK B LICENSE 520-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk B License | 21 of 60 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 520-01 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk B License | 3 of 46 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 520-80 | 27 of 91 drew | ||
| ELK B LICENSE 520-81 | 86 of 115 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 520-00 | 32 of 60 drew | ||
| ELK PERMIT 520-20 | Either-sex Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk Permit | 0 of 79 drew | |
| ELK PERMIT 520-21 | 4 of 58 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, 2004–2012
% successAll hunters12–20%
12%
16%
16%
16%
14%
14%
20%
16%
19%
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Herd unit 520
Population estimate 2021
879
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2012
30.5%
Population estimateFalling
201920202021
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Falling
200420052006200720082009201020112012
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 520-00Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK B LICENSE 520-00Season DatesOct 23–Feb 15
- ELK B LICENSE 520-01Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK B LICENSE 520-01Season DatesOct 23–Nov 28
- ELK B LICENSE 520-01Traditional Muzzleloader Season DatesDec 11–Dec 19
- ELK B LICENSE 595-00Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK B LICENSE 595-00Season DatesOct 23–Feb 15
- ELK PERMIT 520-20Archery Only Season DatesSep 4–Oct 17
- ELK PERMIT 520-20Season DatesOct 23–Nov 28
- ELK PERMIT 520-20Traditional 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 520and 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 520into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 520 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 520 · ELK B LICENSE 520-00
21 of 60 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026