Big Game by StateThe public record of western draws

Montana · Elk · District 455

Montana elk permit 455-20

How many people put this elk permitfirst and how many of them drew it — year by year, separately for each of the four pools Montana draws, and separately at every bonus point level. Every figure comes from a Fish, Wildlife & Parks report linked at the foot of this page.

What the 2026 drawing did

Montana set a quota of 55 on 455-20 in 2026 and drew 55 — the quota filled. Across the four pools FWP draws separately, no nonresident landowner applicant put it first; no resident landowner applicant put it first; 44 nonresident applicants put it first and 5 drew, 11.36%; 829 resident applicants put it first and 50 drew, 6.03%.

Published in 21 of the drawing years FWP has posted, 2006 to 2026.

Drawing pool

First-choice success rate, by pool and year

The rate is the first-choice applicants in a pool who drew, divided by the first-choice applicants in that pool. Both are exact integers FWP printed in the same row, and it is the measure the department's own drawing statistics tool publishes: "the percentage of 1st choice applicants that were successful". A dash means nobody in that pool applied, so the draw answered nothing — absent, not nought.
YearPoolPool capPut it firstDrew on first choiceFirst-choice success ratePut it 2nd or 3rdDrew on 2nd or 3rd
2026Nonresident544511.36%370
2026Resident55829506.03%5860
2026Nonresident landowner500———
2026Resident landowner900———
2025Nonresident53313.03%230
2025Resident55919545.88%5590
2025Nonresident landowner500———
2025Resident landowner900———
2024Nonresident54300.00%260
2024Resident55849556.48%5270
2024Nonresident landowner500———
2024Resident landowner900———
2023Nonresident53525.71%200
2023Resident55813536.52%4310
2023Nonresident landowner500———
2023Resident landowner800———
2022Nonresident53226.25%200
2022Resident55764536.94%3760
2022Nonresident landowner500———
2022Resident landowner800———
2021Nonresident53712.70%220
2021Resident50810496.05%4510
2021Nonresident landowner500———
2021Resident landowner800———
2020Nonresident65723.51%220
2020Resident60855586.78%4070
2020Nonresident landowner600———
2020Resident landowner900———
2019Nonresident74724.26%220
2019Resident75799739.14%4800
2019Nonresident landowner700———
2019Resident landowner1200———
2018Nonresident66711.49%420
2018Resident65775648.26%4340
2018Nonresident landowner600———
2018Resident landowner1000———
2017Nonresident64936.12%280
2017Resident65737628.41%4260
2017Nonresident landowner600———
2017Resident landowner1000———
2016Nonresident65423.70%300
2016Resident65851637.40%4570
2016Nonresident landowner600———
2016Resident landowner1000———
2015Nonresident66411.56%290
2015Resident65974646.57%5270
2015Nonresident landowner600———
2015Resident landowner1000———
2013Nonresident66700.00%350
2013Resident651,004656.47%5330
2013Nonresident landowner600———
2013Resident landowner1000———
2012Nonresident66745.97%380
2012Resident65975616.26%4080
2012Nonresident landowner600———
2012Resident landowner1000———
2011Nonresident75235.77%450
2011Resident75818718.68%3150
2011Nonresident landowner700———
2011Resident landowner1111100.00%——
2010Nonresident76857.35%540
2010Resident74807698.55%2650
2010Nonresident landowner700———
2010Resident landowner1100———
2009Nonresident755712.73%380
2009Resident755716811.91%2030
2009Nonresident landowner700———
2009Resident landowner1100———
2008Nonresident755712.73%250
2008Resident754856814.02%1590
2008Nonresident landowner700———
2008Resident landowner1100———
2007Nonresident76058.33%250
2007Resident755467012.82%1600
2007Nonresident landowner700———
2007Resident landowner1100———
2006Nonresident74037.50%150
2006Resident704666714.38%1680
2006Nonresident landowner700———
2006Resident landowner1100———

Pool cap is FWP's own QTA column, and it is a ceiling rather than an allocation. The resident regular cap equals the overall quota; the nonresident caps are ten per cent of it and cover landowner and regular nonresidents together; the resident landowner cap is fifteen per cent. The department states plainly that the ceiling is not a floor: "although the nonresident quotas are set at 10%, that entire quota may not be drawn by nonresidents", and that if every resident applicant draws, nonresidents may go over ten per cent.

Landowner rows are a different drawing, not a subset of the one below them.Landowner preference is the first stage, worth up to fifteen per cent of the quota to resident landowners, and its applicants are counted apart from the regular pool throughout. FWP publishes the landowner pools at first choice only, which is why their second and third columns are dashes rather than noughts.

Draw rate at each bonus point level

One row per bonus point level per pool per year, exactly as FWP's Detailed Bonus Point report publishes it. The rate is that level's successes divided by its applications — both exact integers in the same printed row.
YearPoolBonus pointsAppliedDrewDrew at this level
2026Nonresident0400.00%
2026Nonresident1600.00%
2026Nonresident2800.00%
2026Nonresident34125.00%
2026Nonresident47114.29%
2026Nonresident5100.00%
2026Nonresident6500.00%
2026Nonresident74250.00%
2026Nonresident9100.00%
2026Nonresident11100.00%
2026Nonresident12100.00%
2026Nonresident13100.00%
2026Nonresident1411100.00%
2026Resident06611.52%
2026Resident113610.74%
2026Resident211943.36%
2026Resident311354.42%
2026Resident49655.21%
2026Resident57134.23%
2026Resident66657.58%
2026Resident743511.63%
2026Resident837616.22%
2026Resident928414.29%
2026Resident1018422.22%
2026Resident1114535.71%
2026Resident129111.11%
2026Resident13600.00%
2026Resident153133.33%
2026Resident16400.00%
2025Nonresident05120.00%
2025Nonresident1600.00%
2025Nonresident2600.00%
2025Nonresident3600.00%
2025Nonresident4100.00%
2025Nonresident5300.00%
2025Nonresident7300.00%
2025Nonresident9100.00%
2025Nonresident12100.00%
2025Nonresident13100.00%
2025Resident04200.00%
2025Resident117210.58%
2025Resident213610.74%
2025Resident313532.22%
2025Resident49522.11%
2025Resident510132.97%
2025Resident66457.81%
2025Resident754814.81%
2025Resident831722.58%
2025Resident933721.21%
2025Resident1020210.00%
2025Resident1114750.00%
2025Resident126116.67%
2025Resident1333100.00%
2025Resident144125.00%
2025Resident156116.67%
2025Resident1611100.00%
2025Resident1711100.00%
2025Resident18100.00%
2024Nonresident0600.00%
2024Nonresident1600.00%
2024Nonresident2800.00%
2024Nonresident3500.00%
2024Nonresident4400.00%
2024Nonresident5200.00%
2024Nonresident6100.00%
2024Nonresident7300.00%
2024Nonresident8200.00%
2024Nonresident9100.00%
2024Nonresident11400.00%
2024Nonresident12100.00%
2024Resident05600.00%
2024Resident115121.32%
2024Resident215431.95%
2024Resident311965.04%
2024Resident410365.83%
2024Resident57379.59%
2024Resident64948.16%
2024Resident741717.07%
2024Resident830516.67%
2024Resident925312.00%
2024Resident1021733.33%
2024Resident118225.00%
2024Resident126116.67%
2024Resident137114.29%
2024Resident145120.00%
2024Resident16100.00%
2023Nonresident1900.00%
2023Nonresident2600.00%
2023Nonresident3300.00%
2023Nonresident4200.00%
2023Nonresident53266.67%
2023Nonresident7200.00%
2023Nonresident8100.00%
2023Nonresident9100.00%
2023Nonresident10100.00%
2023Nonresident11100.00%
2023Nonresidentnot stated600.00%
2023Resident116410.61%
2023Resident214010.71%
2023Resident312632.38%
2023Resident48955.62%
2023Resident56058.33%
2023Resident6541120.37%
2023Resident740717.50%
2023Resident836513.89%
2023Resident918211.11%
2023Resident1015426.67%
2023Resident118225.00%
2023Resident128450.00%
2023Resident136350.00%
2023Resident18100.00%
2023Residentnot stated4800.00%
2022Nonresident0200.00%
2022Nonresident1700.00%
2022Nonresident2400.00%
2022Nonresident3300.00%
2022Nonresident44125.00%
2022Nonresident5200.00%
2022Nonresident611100.00%
2022Nonresident7200.00%
2022Nonresident8300.00%
2022Nonresident9100.00%
2022Nonresidentnot stated300.00%
2022Resident015110.66%
2022Resident112510.80%
2022Resident29944.04%
2022Resident37334.11%
2022Resident47145.63%
2022Resident539717.95%
2022Resident642716.67%
2022Resident72414.17%
2022Resident819526.32%
2022Resident911218.18%
2022Resident1010330.00%
2022Resident119222.22%
2022Resident1211100.00%
2022Resident137457.14%
2022Resident1444100.00%
2022Resident1511100.00%
2022Resident17100.00%
2022Resident1811100.00%
2022Resident1922100.00%
2022Residentnot stated7400.00%
2021Nonresident01100.00%
2021Nonresident1300.00%
2021Nonresident2300.00%
2021Nonresident3100.00%
2021Nonresident43133.33%
2021Nonresident5300.00%
2021Nonresident6200.00%
2021Nonresident7100.00%
2021Nonresident8200.00%
2021Nonresidentnot stated800.00%
2021Resident017531.71%
2021Resident112921.55%
2021Resident29611.04%
2021Resident310044.00%
2021Resident455610.91%
2021Resident55335.66%
2021Resident629413.79%
2021Resident729517.24%
2021Resident819947.37%
2021Resident915320.00%
2021Resident101417.14%
2021Resident112150.00%
2021Resident126116.67%
2021Resident135240.00%
2021Resident143266.67%
2021Resident1711100.00%
2021Resident182150.00%
2021Residentnot stated7700.00%
2020Nonresident01500.00%
2020Nonresident1700.00%
2020Nonresident2300.00%
2020Nonresident3500.00%
2020Nonresident4800.00%
2020Nonresident5300.00%
2020Nonresident64125.00%
2020Nonresident7100.00%
2020Nonresident9100.00%
2020Nonresidentnot stated10110.00%
2020Resident016742.40%
2020Resident113321.50%
2020Resident212554.00%
2020Resident37411.35%
2020Resident46434.69%
2020Resident543511.63%
2020Resident644818.18%
2020Resident729620.69%
2020Resident820210.00%
2020Resident920420.00%
2020Resident1013969.23%
2020Resident115120.00%
2020Resident126233.33%
2020Resident134250.00%
2020Resident144125.00%
2020Resident1511100.00%
2020Resident162150.00%
2020Residentnot stated10110.99%
2019Nonresident01900.00%
2019Nonresident1300.00%
2019Nonresident2400.00%
2019Nonresident3200.00%
2019Nonresident4500.00%
2019Nonresident5200.00%
2019Nonresident711100.00%
2019Nonresident8100.00%
2019Nonresident1211100.00%
2019Nonresidentnot stated900.00%
2019Resident016310.61%
2019Resident113510.74%
2019Resident28755.75%
2019Resident36845.88%
2019Resident45323.77%
2019Resident544715.91%
2019Resident627622.22%
2019Resident7311032.26%
2019Resident834617.65%
2019Resident9211047.62%
2019Resident1011436.36%
2019Resident1111872.73%
2019Resident128337.50%
2019Resident134250.00%
2019Resident143133.33%
2019Resident154250.00%
2019Resident163133.33%
2019Residentnot stated9200.00%
2018Nonresident02000.00%
2018Nonresident11400.00%
2018Nonresident2700.00%
2018Nonresident3200.00%
2018Nonresident4500.00%
2018Nonresident5200.00%
2018Nonresident6200.00%
2018Nonresident811100.00%
2018Nonresident11100.00%
2018Nonresidentnot stated1300.00%
2018Resident017431.72%
2018Resident111132.70%
2018Resident28711.15%
2018Resident36711.49%
2018Resident456712.50%
2018Resident54748.51%
2018Resident642921.43%
2018Resident720420.00%
2018Resident819736.84%
2018Resident926830.77%
2018Resident1015320.00%
2018Resident1110660.00%
2018Resident123133.33%
2018Resident134375.00%
2018Resident147342.86%
2018Resident153133.33%
2018Residentnot stated8400.00%
2017Nonresident01700.00%
2017Nonresident1400.00%
2017Nonresident24125.00%
2017Nonresident35120.00%
2017Nonresident4200.00%
2017Nonresident5100.00%
2017Nonresident6200.00%
2017Nonresident7200.00%
2017Nonresident1211100.00%
2017Nonresidentnot stated1100.00%
2017Resident015610.64%
2017Resident19033.33%
2017Resident2961212.50%
2017Resident360813.33%
2017Resident46469.38%
2017Resident54636.52%
2017Resident6371027.03%
2017Resident730413.33%
2017Resident826623.08%
2017Resident916212.50%
2017Resident101000.00%
2017Resident118225.00%
2017Resident123133.33%
2017Resident138225.00%
2017Resident146116.67%
2017Residentnot stated8111.23%
2016Nonresident01300.00%
2016Nonresident1700.00%
2016Nonresident29222.22%
2016Nonresident3400.00%
2016Nonresident4100.00%
2016Nonresident5300.00%
2016Nonresident6100.00%
2016Nonresident11100.00%
2016Nonresident13100.00%
2016Nonresidentnot stated1400.00%
2016Resident015042.67%
2016Resident1127129.45%
2016Resident28311.20%
2016Resident38733.45%
2016Resident45635.36%
2016Resident55335.66%
2016Resident652713.46%
2016Resident74748.51%
2016Resident832515.63%
2016Resident919526.32%
2016Resident1014321.43%
2016Resident119222.22%
2016Resident1213753.85%
2016Resident1318316.67%
2016Residentnot stated9111.10%
2015Nonresident02300.00%
2015Nonresident1900.00%
2015Nonresident2400.00%
2015Nonresident3600.00%
2015Nonresident5100.00%
2015Nonresident811100.00%
2015Nonresidentnot stated2000.00%
2015Resident020141.99%
2015Resident113075.38%
2015Resident213386.02%
2015Resident37945.06%
2015Resident46957.25%
2015Resident567811.94%
2015Resident658712.07%
2015Resident744715.91%
2015Resident823313.04%
2015Resident917317.65%
2015Resident1011218.18%
2015Resident1119315.79%
2015Resident1218316.67%
2015Residentnot stated10500.00%
2014Nonresident01300.00%
2014Nonresident11100.00%
2014Nonresident27114.29%
2014Nonresident3100.00%
2014Nonresident42150.00%
2014Nonresident5100.00%
2014Nonresident6100.00%
2014Nonresident911100.00%
2014Nonresident11100.00%
2014Nonresidentnot stated20210.00%
2014Resident018494.89%
2014Resident112943.10%
2014Resident2971010.31%
2014Resident38733.45%
2014Resident48256.10%
2014Resident56845.88%
2014Resident645613.33%
2014Resident725416.00%
2014Resident818422.22%
2014Resident913323.08%
2014Resident1018316.67%
2014Resident1116212.50%
2014Residentnot stated10632.83%
2013Nonresident02700.00%
2013Nonresident11100.00%
2013Nonresident2400.00%
2013Nonresident3400.00%
2013Nonresident4100.00%
2013Nonresident5300.00%
2013Nonresident6100.00%
2013Nonresident8200.00%
2013Nonresidentnot stated1400.00%
2013Resident023273.02%
2013Resident115074.67%
2013Resident211797.69%
2013Resident312097.50%
2013Resident47833.85%
2013Resident55600.00%
2013Resident633721.21%
2013Resident731825.81%
2013Resident825624.00%
2013Resident92827.14%
2013Resident1026623.08%
2013Residentnot stated10810.93%
2012Nonresident02613.85%
2012Nonresident11000.00%
2012Nonresident25120.00%
2012Nonresident3400.00%
2012Nonresident44125.00%
2012Nonresident5200.00%
2012Nonresident9100.00%
2012Nonresidentnot stated1516.67%
2012Resident021620.93%
2012Resident116574.24%
2012Resident215295.92%
2012Resident37867.69%
2012Resident4701014.29%
2012Resident553713.21%
2012Resident630620.00%
2012Resident728414.29%
2012Resident826519.23%
2012Resident930516.67%
2012Residentnot stated12700.00%
2011Nonresident01600.00%
2011Nonresident19111.11%
2011Nonresident2400.00%
2011Nonresident35240.00%
2011Nonresident4200.00%
2011Nonresident8100.00%
2011Nonresidentnot stated1500.00%
2011Resident018952.65%
2011Resident115174.64%
2011Resident2851112.94%
2011Resident38267.32%
2011Resident4651116.92%
2011Resident538513.16%
2011Resident630413.33%
2011Resident728932.14%
2011Resident827518.52%
2011Residentnot stated12386.50%
2011Resident landownernot stated11100.00%
2010Nonresident01600.00%
2010Nonresident1800.00%
2010Nonresident28225.00%
2010Nonresident3900.00%
2010Nonresident511100.00%
2010Nonresident611100.00%
2010Nonresidentnot stated2514.00%
2010Resident019763.05%
2010Resident112086.67%
2010Resident29899.18%
2010Resident3741216.22%
2010Resident450612.00%
2010Resident546715.22%
2010Resident635822.86%
2010Resident739820.51%
2010Residentnot stated14853.38%
2009Nonresident01900.00%
2009Nonresident113215.38%
2009Nonresident28225.00%
2009Nonresident3100.00%
2009Nonresident4200.00%
2009Nonresident53133.33%
2009Nonresident6200.00%
2009Nonresidentnot stated7228.57%
2009Resident012964.65%
2009Resident18755.75%
2009Resident2731115.07%
2009Resident351917.65%
2009Resident436719.44%
2009Resident5411024.39%
2009Resident6441329.55%
2009Residentnot stated11076.36%
2008Nonresident02627.69%
2008Nonresident1500.00%
2008Nonresident211327.27%
2008Nonresident32150.00%
2008Nonresident43133.33%
2008Nonresidentnot stated800.00%
2008Resident0115108.70%
2008Resident18189.88%
2008Resident2631015.87%
2008Resident351713.73%
2008Resident4481327.08%
2008Resident5511631.37%
2008Residentnot stated7645.26%
2007Nonresident02800.00%
2007Nonresident113323.08%
2007Nonresident25120.00%
2007Nonresident32150.00%
2007Nonresident4100.00%
2007Nonresidentnot stated1100.00%
2007Resident0143106.99%
2007Resident1112108.93%
2007Resident2751520.00%
2007Resident3661421.21%
2007Resident4631523.81%
2007Residentnot stated8766.90%
2006Nonresident01500.00%
2006Nonresident17114.29%
2006Nonresident2700.00%
2006Nonresident3100.00%
2006Nonresidentnot stated10220.00%
2006Resident013696.62%
2006Resident1771114.29%
2006Resident2821619.51%
2006Resident3842630.95%
2006Residentnot stated8755.75%

No bonus point level guarantees a licence in Montana, and this page does not publish one. FWP squares your bonus points and adds them to your current application as extra chances — three points give ten chances, ten points give a hundred and one — so the drawing is a weighted lottery and not a queue. More points is better odds every time, and a place in line never.

Not stated is FWP's own blank cell, and it is not the same as nought. The department's reports frequently carry both a nought-point row and a blank one for the same pool in the same year, with different application counts, and both are inside the district total it prints. FWP does not say what separates them, so they are shown apart rather than added together into a "no points" figure it never published.

Sources for this licence

Other licences in these districts

Bonus points are one of Montana's two point systems and the only one that applies here. The other, preference points, exists on nonresident combination licences alone and works in the opposite way. See how these numbers are produced and checked, or the Montana application deadlines.