Nonresidents get a Montana general deer license through the spring combination license draw. Mule deer permits and antlerless Deer B licenses are separate draws on top of that. Here’s how to apply for each.

Key dates (2026)

Step	2026 date
Applications open	March 1, 5 a.m. MST
Deer Combination, Big Game Combination, and deer permit deadline	April 1, 11:45 p.m. MST
Results	Mid-April
Deer B drawing deadline	June 1
Deer B results	Mid-June
Over-the-counter Deer B sales begin	June 15
Preference point without applying	July 1 – December 31
Bonus point without applying	July 1 – September 30

FWP has not posted 2027 dates yet. The April 1 and June 1 deadlines have been steady for years.

Step 1: Hunter education and prerequisites

Hunters born after January 1, 1985, need proof of hunter education before applying. Every nonresident also needs a $10 conservation license and the $50 base hunting license. Both are nonrefundable.

Step 2: Choose your combination license

Nonresident license (2026)	Includes	Price	Quota
Deer Combination	General deer, upland bird, season fishing	$760	4,600
Big Game Combination	General deer and elk, upland bird, season fishing	$1,312	17,000
Landowner-Sponsored Deer Combination	Same as Deer Combination, valid only on the sponsoring landowner’s deeded land	$760	2,000

You can apply for only one combination license each year. If you only want deer, the Deer Combination is the cheaper choice. If you may want elk too, the Big Game Combination saves a second trip through the draw.

The Landowner-Sponsored option is for hunters who have a landowner (often through an outfitter or a private ranch) willing to sponsor them. It’s limited to that landowner’s deeded land.

Step 3: Preference points

• 75% of combination licenses go to applicants with the most preference points.
• 25% go by random draw to applicants without preference points.
• Points cost $100 at application, or $100 from July 1 to December 31 if you don’t apply.
• Points are erased when you draw, or if you skip the next drawing.
• Outfitter clients can buy a second point; licenses drawn with it are valid only when hunting with a licensed outfitter.

Step 4: Deer permits

In some districts, buck mule deer and certain other hunts require a deer permit in addition to your general deer license.

• Application fee: $5, nonrefundable. Deadline April 1.
• Nonresidents must apply for a combination license at the same time.
• A permit is not a second deer. It limits you to the district or portion printed on it.
• Permits use bonus points: $20 when you apply, or $25 from July 1 to September 30 without applying. Bonus points are squared in the draw and count only for your first choice.

Step 5: Deer B licenses

Deer B licenses are extra antlerless licenses, usually for whitetail does in farm country.

Deer B (2026)	Nonresident	Resident
Drawing (deadline June 1, includes application fee)	$80	$15
Over the counter (from June 15, where available)	$75	$10

FWP also sells an antlerless whitetail B license valid in one region you choose at purchase. Some B licenses are limited to private land or certain portions of districts.

What it costs to apply (nonresident Deer Combination, 2026)

Item	Cost
Deer Combination	$760
Base hunting license	$50
Conservation license	$10
Application fee	$5
AIS Prevention Pass (16+)	$7.50
Total	$832.50
Optional preference point	$100
Optional deer permit application and bonus point	$5 + $20

Refunds

A drawn nonresident combination can be returned for 80% back before August 1 and 50% after that until the season opens. Permit fees, prerequisites, and the application fee are not refunded.

Point rules at a glance

• Two systems: Nonresident combination licenses (general deer) use preference points: 75% go to the most points and 25% are drawn at random from applicants with zero points. Deer permits and Deer B licenses use squared bonus points (points squared, plus 1, entries) in a random draw.
• Preference point cap: You can hold at most 3 preference points, so they never stack up past that.
• Bonus points only count when you buy one: Your bonus points are used only in a year you also buy a bonus point for that drawing.
• Nonresident share: By law nonresidents are limited to, but not guaranteed, 10% of deer permits.
• You lose your points if: Bonus points: you draw your first choice in a year you bought a bonus point (skipping years doesn’t cost you). Preference points: you draw a combination license, or hold points and skip the next combination drawing.
• Point only: Bonus point only July 1 – September 30 ($15 resident, $25 nonresident). Nonresident preference point only July 1 – December 31 ($100).

Full breakdown: how the draw works, with examples · check last year’s odds for every hunt

Didn’t draw?

FWP posts surplus licenses after the drawing, Deer B licenses are available in June, and you can buy a preference point to improve your odds next year.

Related: How Montana draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Montana Deer Hunting Guide · General deer license, permits, and B licenses · Deer season dates · Cost of a Montana deer hunt

Fees and dates are from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for 2026. Always confirm in the current FWP deer, elk, and antelope regulations before you apply.