Was working up west and conversation turned to app deadline for elk and deer here in Montana. One guy there scared me when he said he thought the deadline had already come and gone.

Looked it up today and it isn't until next week. Thankfully.

Since FWP moved the application deadline up so early, about half the time, I have missed getting my applications in. I hate this early deadline and have yet to get used to it.

Anyone else still adjusting to this app deadline?

Anyone have theirs in? Where are you applying this year? I will probably put in for the breaks again for a bull and all of us will apply for a B tag in the breaks. I need to find a simpler place to try and take the kids after elk this year.

My apps are in. Longs odds I'll draw the permits I put in for, but there's hope and I wouldn't be mad about having to make a trip to the Breaks a second year in a row...

I’m getting your tag this year... grin

I always apply for the .01% draws and pref them 1 and 2. 3rd choice is always for a guaranteed draw in my local area.

I'll put in for the unlimited mulie tag behind my mom's place in the Bitterroot like I always do. I sometimes still think the deadline in May 31st, but am slowly getting used to this March 15th thing.

I doubt I will put in for elk. If I do it would be a general tag as I would only hunt in the Bitterroot, but the hunting there sucks ass-at least on NF. I have a hard enough time finding one locally here in WY and with a rosie tag on Afognak, really don't feel the need to spend the extra $ on a general elk tag in Montana.

Tomorrow......

Wife has 16 bonus points for elk. Maybe this is the year!

I go for the archery permit, first choice.

I put in for special draws the other day for the first time as a resident. Put in for 270 for deer and 310 for elk. Had a little hassle proving I had bow hunted in the state I moved from so I didnt have to take the class, but eventually found a blood soaked tag on a set of antlers in my shed.

Nope. I rubbed some "luck" on the application...

My elk hunting this past season lasted all of a full 20 minutes of walking from the pick-up to the act of tag notching on a friend's ranch in Powell county. So, I am more than willing to give up my 13 bonus points and another ranch hunt for some exercise in the Breaks-all they have to do is pick me. CP.

Laffin. Your pard uses both of yours luck!!! Damn he draws some tags!!

We got 'em in a few days ago. My wife has the maximum bonus points for elk, and is often lucky in drawings, which may help in drawing for the local area, even though around 10,000 people usually put in for around 100 permits.

We also have to apply for a mule deer permit to hunt locally, but everybody who applies gets one. Some years we put in and some years we head to eastern Montana, but this year the snow around here wasn't nearly as deep as in some other parts of the state. The local mule deer seem to have survived very well, and fact look pretty fat, so we're going to be hunting around home again.

A gal at the local MFW&P office told me that they took the cap off of the bonus points. I had not heard or read anything about this change, so I have remained dubious about what she told me. Have you heard anything about any changes to the bonus cap? CP.

Me my two sons all put in for elk/mule deer, this will be our 8th year meeting up in Montana for Thanksgiving and a week of hunting ( something) together. At least my youngest is a Mt. resident so his tags come cheap.

He does. Ask T_Inman...