261-01 Deer B License Draw Odds, Montana
Deer b license, district 261-01 (mule), from FWP's 2023 to 2026 drawing statistics. Jump to resident odds or nonresident odds.
.jpg){kind=link}
Get draw deadline reminders
An email before the Montana 261-01 deer application deadline, and before every other Texas and Western draw closes.
Bonus: the free 2027 Western draw deadline calendar (PDF) when you sign up. Free. A few emails a year, timed to deadlines and results. Unsubscribe anytime.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Drawing | Deer b license, district 261-01 (mule) |
| 2026 total quota | 10 |
| 2026 nonresident cap (FWP's nonresident quota column) | 1 |
| 2026 landowner preference cap: resident / nonresident | 2 / 1 |
| 2026 first-choice applicants: resident / nonresident | 95 / 8 |
| 2026 drawn on first choice: resident / nonresident | 10 / 0 |
| 2026 first-choice odds: resident / nonresident | 10.5% / 0.0% |
| 2026 total successful (all choices and pools) | 10 |
Resident odds by bonus point (2026 drawing)
Share of first-choice resident applicants at each bonus-point level who drew, from FWP's 2026 bonus point report. Each applicant gets one chance plus their points squared, so the draw favors high point holders without a hard cutoff. How Montana bonus points work.
| Bonus points | Chances in drawing | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Odds at this level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 1 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 6.5% |
| 2 | 5 | 17 | 4 | 23.5% |
| 3 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 16.7% |
| 4 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 50.0% |
| 5 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 50.0% |
Resident outlook for 2027
If first-choice demand keeps its 2023 to 2026 trend (+7 applicants a year), about 102 residents would apply in 2027; with the same number of first-choice licenses, overall first-choice odds would be about 10%. Average bonus points among first-choice applicants are trending to about 1.1 (-0.04 a year), a measure of point creep in a weighted draw. Confidence: medium.
Nonresident odds by bonus point (2026 drawing)
Share of first-choice nonresident applicants at each bonus-point level who drew, from FWP's 2026 bonus point report. Each applicant gets one chance plus their points squared, so the draw favors high point holders without a hard cutoff. How Montana bonus points work.
| Bonus points | Chances in drawing | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Odds at this level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
Nonresident outlook for 2027
If first-choice demand keeps its 2023 to 2026 trend (+2 applicants a year), about 10 nonresidents would apply in 2027; with the same number of first-choice licenses, overall first-choice odds would be about 0%. Average bonus points among first-choice applicants are trending to about 1.2 (-0.08 a year), a measure of point creep in a weighted draw. Confidence: low.
First-choice odds by year
First-choice draws over first-choice applicants in the regular drawing (landowner preference excluded).
| Draw year | Quota | Resident applicants | Resident odds | Nonresident applicants | Nonresident odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 | 74 | 12.2% | 2 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 10 | 90 | 10.0% | 11 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 10 | 108 | 8.3% | 10 | 10.0% |
| 2026 | 10 | 95 | 10.5% | 8 | 0.0% |
Outlook method: see the top of the Montana points explainer and our forecast method. It is a trend line, not a promise.
Notes from TagCanyon
- In 2026, 95 residents listed this drawing first for a quota of 10, about 9.5 resident applicants per license.
- Residents: at 0 bonus points 0% drew; at 3 points (the highest level with at least 5 applicants) 17% drew.
Deadline
Elk B, deer B, antelope and antelope B licenses: FWP's 2026 window ran Mar 1 to Jun 1, 2026 (11:45 p.m. Mountain). FWP has not posted 2027 dates yet; the June 1 deadline has held in recent years. FWP application and drawing dates.
Deadline reminder: Montana B license and antelope drawing
Deadline Jun 1, 2027. Expected: the June 1 deadline has held in recent years (11:45 p.m. Mountain).
Add to calendar (.ics) Includes an alert 7 days before.
Email me 7 days before
Proven gear for this hunt
Optics that hold up on Montana deer hunts. Field-tested by our team and highly rated by hunters who bought them.
- Top pick for most huntersVortex Diamondback HD 10x42 binoculars
Bright, sharp HD glass for all-day glassing, with a harness included and Vortex's lifetime warranty.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link or on AmazonAffiliate link
- Top pick for most huntersVortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP rifle scope
Clear glass and turrets that track, with the power range to reach across open Western country.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link
- Step-up pickLeupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 rifle scope
The step-up scope. Light, tough and built to last decades, with a lifetime warranty from Leupold.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link
Plan the hunt: Montana apply checklist · Elk hunting binoculars.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), 2026 Drawing Statistics reports (MyFWP drawing statistics, FWP application and drawing dates). Tables, outlooks and text are TagCanyon's own; FWP does not warrant or endorse them. Not affiliated with FWP. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026.
Never miss a draw
Apply on time in Montana
One short email before each application window closes, and another when results post. Free.
Get deadline emails.jpg){kind=link}
Get draw deadline reminders
Texas drawn hunt deadlines (Jul to Nov) and Western draw windows (Jan to Jun), plus results when they post. Sign up and get the free 2027 draw deadline calendar (PDF). Unsubscribe anytime.