Montana Unit 540:elk draw odds & harvest
6 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit 540. 2022: 0 tags, 1 applicants per hunt.
Montana · Unit 540
Unit 540Neighbor units
Hardest draw in Unit 5402022 draw
ELK B LICENSE 540-000 tags, 1 applied, under 1% drew.
One of Montana's hardest elk draws: 1st hardest of 563 in 2022.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 540
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2009 | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELK A9 540-80 | 18 of 18 drew | 50 | |
| ELK B LICENSE 005-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 5–Oct 18Elk B License | 712 of 712 drew | |
| ELK B LICENSE 540-00 | Antlerless Elk · archery only season dates · Sep 4–Oct 17Elk B License | 0 tags | 0 |
| ELK B LICENSE 540-80 | 31 of 39 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 540-00 | 83 of 83 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 hunters11–26%
15%
19%
22%
11%
14%
15%
23%
23%
14%
26%
25%
21%
26%
'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 540
Population estimate 2025
1,659
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2025
32%
Population estimateFalling
2019202020212022202320242025
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 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
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 540and 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 540into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 540 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 540 · ELK A9 540-80
18 of 18 drew
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: FWP · Updated Nov 13, 2026