Scope Out Exciting Lottery Chances to Hunt on Montana Tribal Land

With general big game rifle seasons on the horizon, here's an opportunity on which you might want to take a chance. Or two. Or twenty.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that opportunities for guided bison and elk hunts on the Blackfeet Reservation are available through a lottery system. The lottery is a way Montana FWP partners with the Blackfeet Tribe, in an effort to show the two parties' commitment to managing wildlife across the state and to facilitate hunting opportunities.

The lottery is open to all hunters, be they tribal members, nonmembers, Montana residents and nonresidents.

BISON

For bison, there are three opportunities to enter the lottery. Lottery chances are available now. The deadline to enter the first lottery is October 27; with the first drawing held October 28.

The second lottery opens October 28 and closes on November 24, with that drawing held on on November.

The third lottery opens November 25 and closes December 22, with the drawing held on December 23. The bison season is open from November 15 to February 15 of 2025.

Chances are $10 each, and hunters can purchase up to 20 chances. At least 400 bison chances need to be sold or the winner pays $500. Successful hunters can keep the bison’s head, hide and meat.

ELK

There is only one opportunity to enter the elk hunt lottery. The lottery is open now and the deadline is October 20. The drawing takes place on October 21. Elk season is open from October 12 to December 15.

CERTAIN CONDITIONS APPLY

Lottery chances are only $10 each, and hunters can purchase up to 20 chances.  At least 400 bison chances need to be sold or the winner would have to pay $500. Successful hunters can keep the bison’s head, hide and meat.

At least 1,200 elk chances need to be sold or the winner would have to pay $2,500.

To enter any of the drawings, you can go to the Buy and Apply page of the Montana FWP website. Opportunities can also be purchased at a license provider or an FWP office.

For more information, you can contact the Blackfeet Fish and Game office at 406-338-7207.