Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game MT resident sheep points

Applied for my resident MT tags & licenses a few days ago, checked & currently have 23 sheep bonus points. So this year will be number 24 under that system. Give or take another 15 years of applying prior to the bonus points system. A bit disheartening. Afraid the knees are going to give out before the chance to go after one. Any other MT resident hunters in the same boat?

22 years and waiting, I do deserve a sheep this year…

I think you could sheep hunt every year if you really wanted to...

Been applying since I was 14. Never have drawn and am at max points. I used to apply for the easier units (other than the unlimited units) when I was a resident and growing up. Now that I have moved away, if I am going to use up my points and have the cost of a NR tag, travel etc. , I apply for the more difficult units without any real expectations.

I am a non resident but other than that I'm in the same boat......bonus points and knees

Last one was in 1990…

Beauty of a ram Shrapnel!

Montana points system is a joke.

Yes, you can buy a MT Unlimited unit tag every year, but if you kill a ram you have to wait 7 years before you can apply again.

I also have maximum Bonus Points and have unsuccessfully applied in a drawing unit every year since 1983.

However, I was lucky in the early '80s, and before the 7 year wait rule, and killed these 3 Bighorn rams from a couple of the Unlimited Units...

On its best day./...

It is simply a method of raising revenue, which is what MT FWP is all about.

All points systems are a joke! I participate in them, but hate each and every one of them.

Have 19 points accumulated and will buy another along with my application. Not kidding myself I will draw. But, someone has to draw one. The anticipation is always high. Don’t fret over not drawing as it is a waste of energy. At 75, going on 76 I dream of a tag. But, not gonna plan until I see results mid June.
BTW, I did draw a mountain goat tag for the Cabinet mountain wilderness in 2011. I filled my tag by taking a nice Billy.
So, to all that apply and dream I say good luck. Again, someone has to draw these tags. MTG

Started in 1990 and have yet to draw. Know a fella who has 2 and others that draw first time.

Never lose the faith,

A member here, lives just miles from me, Non-resident of MT,

Drew on his 7th year IIRC…..Still have the pic of the Ram on my phone, Breaks hunt….

Keep the dream alive guys.

Yep. I would say stop waiting and go hunting.

I'm so weary of the points game...everywhere.

I like Montana's bonus point system better than a true preference point system like Wyoming has, but prefer Idaho's no point system.

That said, I apply for Idaho sheep (and with a lifetime license I am considered a resident as far as tag allocations go) and haven't drawn there either. I think I started applying there in 1993, when I was 14.

Been applying for moose, sheep and goat in MT since 1981.

Drew a goat tag in 1983 before any point system was instituted and have never drawn sheep or moose.

So yes, I am at max points for all three species.

I have max points in all three. Maybe one day I'll draw, instead of just contributing to FWP. There are definitely some funky things that go on with the draw. I know of one family where 3 of the 4 people in the household have drawn Breaks sheep. Another guy that drew sheep and goat one year and moose the next. Several kids that have drawn within the first couple years of applying. Another family that drew 5 Breaks rifle elk permits in one year. Definitely more statistical oddities than I'm terribly comfortable with.

You've drawn a sheep tag and killed a ram. How greedy does one person have to be to try and kill another Montana ram? Should be a once in a lifetime tag.