Montana Bighorn Sheep

Anyone dreaming of drawing a coveted bighorn sheep tag someday should be applying in Montana every year. For the most part, sheep populations throughout the state are holding steady. The average ram being harvested in Montana right now is 7 years old and tapes out just under 170”. Over the last decade, ram permit numbers haven’t changed a whole lot but as application demand continues to climb, the odds of drawing a tag only get tougher by the year. Simple odds for non-residents were just over 1 in 1,000 last year with 7 ram tags drawn out of 7,581 applicants. This year, non-residents have some great hunts to choose from. Most of the options available will provide a good chance of turning up a book ram. Between the backcountry hunts in the vast and rugged mountain ranges of 123 and 301 or the physically easy hunts in 270, 455, and 620, any applicant will be offered the type of experience they are after in what, if drawn, will likely be their once-in-a-lifetime sheep hunt.

This year, two of the three Missouri Breaks hunts will be available for non-residents to apply for. 482 and 680 will both offer up to one non-resident permit. These hunts have really gone downhill since the 2019 season, and the many giant rams once roaming these areas are now few and far between. The other Breaks unit, 622, will not be available to non-residents this year. It is worth noting that if you are a resident of Montana and are considering applying for this hunt in 2025, we strongly encourage that you reconsider. A severe respiratory disease and lungworm outbreak began in September of 2024 and significant mortality occurred throughout the unit. Hunters reported seeing 80% fewer sheep than typically reported. Instead of closing the hunt for the upcoming season, FWP will cut ram and ewe tags from five of each to one of each. This will have a big impact on draw odds, and for the hunter who draws the ram tag, a 160s ram is the best they can hope for.

One of a few reasons Montana is a special state for sheep hunting is that it is the only one that offers over-the-counter bighorn sheep tags. Once again, hunters can choose from five units – 300, 303, 500, 501, and 502. The tags must be purchased or applied for by May 1st. The odds of harvesting a ram are typically around 2%, but every year, a handful of lucky hunters take home a ram. Last year, 14 hunters harvested rams in the unlimited areas. New for 2025, the mandatory harvest reporting time on these hunts has been reduced from 48 hours to 24 hours. Also, the season will close within 24 hours after the quota is filled, another reduction from the previous 48-hour closure window. See the “Unlimited Bighorn Sheep” section for more information on all of the units and hunts.

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