FAQ

Montana weather varies widely depending on the time of year. Temperatures can range anywhere from below zero to the 70s, so it’s important to be prepared for all conditions. Dressing in layers is key to staying comfortable.

No, hunting tags are not transferable in Montana. Once a license is issued, it is assigned to the individual and cannot be given to another hunter.

No, hunting tags cannot be rolled over to the next season. If you do not use your tag during the designated season, it will expire.

Walker Outfitting will apply for all the licenses that you need for your hunt.  We contact our hunters the first week in March and apply online for their licenses.  All we require is a credit card and your receipt will be emailed right over once this is completed.  We can do this while we are on the phone with you it only takes a few minutes.  This takes all the guesswork out of it and ensures that all the correct information has been entered in the Montana FWP website, mistakes can not be corrected after the license application has been submitted.

All big game licenses in Montana are issued through a special drawing process. Below are the current prices for non-resident hunters:

• Big Game Combination License (Elk, Deer A, Upland Bird, Fishing, Conservation License): $1,478
• Elk Combination License (Elk, Upland Bird, Fishing, Conservation License): $1,278
• Deer Combination License (Deer A, Upland Bird, Fishing, Conservation License): $944
• Landowner Sponsored Deer License: $744
• Non-Resident Antelope License: $205

Additional licensing fees apply, including:

• Conservation License: $10 (Required for all hunters)
• Bow and Arrow License: $10 (Required for archery hunting)
• Base Hunting License: $15 (Annual fee for first license purchase)
• Preference Point (Non-Resident Elk & Deer Combination Licenses): $100 (Two are included in the non-resident licenses above)
• Bonus Point (Non-Resident Antelope, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Elk B Licenses, etc.): $20

For more details, visit Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

The airport with the most flights and flexibility is Bozeman MT, the airport is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes’ drive from Dillon, MT.

Our website lists several hotels and vacation rentals around Dillon Montana, these are our recommendations.  However, you can stay wherever you would like as long as it is not too far of a drive from Dillon.

Yes, it would be a great idea to get a rental car if you are flying in from out of state.  It gives you a lot of flexibility if someone in your hunting group harvests early and if you want to do something else after your hunt is completed.  If in a group hunters are hunting different species in different areas; it can really come in handy and is basically a must.

• A 50% deposit is required once a license is drawn.
• Final payments are due by September 1st.
• No refunds will be issued after a payment is made.
• Antelope-only hunters must pay the full hunt cost once a license is drawn.

Yes, we strongly encourage purchasing trip insurance. Unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather or travel disruptions can impact your hunt. We recommend Traveler’s Insurance through MOGA to protect your investment.

Depending upon the animal that is hunted generally we will meet at the lower ranch early in the morning and then go out to the hunting area. After the morning hunt is completed; you will typically have time for lunch take a break etc.  For the evening hunt we will meet back at the lower ranch at a specified time to go out for the evening hunt.  If we end up staying out all day; we will provide a lunch and Walker Outfitting will always have drinks such as water and snacks such as trail mix, granola bars and the like.

After you have harvested an animal Walker Outfitting will field dress the animal and skin the animal and take it in to our preferred meat processor Beaverhead Meats in Dillon Montana.  If you want to process it yourself you are more than welcome to do that, we will set you up for that in our Quonset Hut.

Yes, we recommend Wildlife Artistry out of Livingston Montana.  After your animal is harvested and taken to the meat processor, we will cape the head and freeze the cape and then get it to our taxidermist on our next trip to his location.  If you want it sent home to your taxidermist it is basically the same process; with one additional step for a fee your cape will be prepped and then shipped from our taxidermist to yours.  If you drive out to Montana, we can easily give you the frozen cape and horns to take back with you.  A cooler is recommended for this.

You can go wade fishing in the Beaverhead or Big Hole River or any of the surrounding water ways or lakes.  You can also hire a guide and take a float trip down a river.  If the roads are still open in Yellowstone Park you can plan a trip to Yellowstone.  Bannack State Park is close by which is a Ghost town that you can walk through, it was the first territorial capitol in Montana.  These are a few of the options that are available to you.

Yes, we recommend you arrive to the hunting area the day before the hunt starts and leave the day after your hunt is completed.  We have both an archery range set-up with a blind and a rifle range on the property.  This gives you a chance to check out your equipment to make sure everything is good.  If we have time and availability, we like to take clients out and do some scouting for the hunt the next day.  Gives you a chance to see some animals, the lay of the land etc.

Yes, if you are bringing your own rifle, we want you to use a suppressor.  If you do not have one and do not or cannot acquire one, we will provide you a rifle with a suppressor.  We have rifles set up for Antelope and Whitetail Deer as well as Elk.  From our own observations we have seen the benefits of reducing the impact on game animals.  The other benefits include greatly reducing recoil, hearing protection, better communication, and faster reaction time after the first shot is taken.

The Preference Point system is just for non-resident hunters applying for Elk & Deer Combination licenses.  It is a true Preference System those with the most licenses get the license first and down the line with ascending order.  For example; all those applicants get the license with 3 points then 2.8, 2.75, 2.67. 2.5, 2.33, 2.25, 2.2, 2 etc all the way down to 1.  The fractions are a result of Party applications being averaged.  When Montana FWP gets to a point where there are less licenses than applicants at a certain level (this has been 2) for the past number of years.  Then a drawing for those licenses for those applicants at that level takes place.  Walker Outfitting ensures you apply above this line.  Bonus Points are a lottery style drawing everyone is in the same pool and applicants are selected, depending upon how many points someone has the name is in the drawing that number of times.

Yes, if you are a non-resident hunter you will need Preference Points when drawing for Elk & Big Game combination licenses.  You can purchase one per calendar year, the exception being two can be purchased through the drawing if you are going with an Outfitter in the state of Montana.  The maximum amount of Preference Points anyone can hold is 3.  The system can be quite confusing but we will walk you through this process or complete is for you suffice it to say we are not concerned about drawing Elk or Deer licenses for our hunters.

Yes, if you are hunting Antelope, we need you to buy Bonus Points.  This is a completely different system than Preference Points.  Both residents and non-residents will be in the drawing for Antelope licenses.  Antelope bonus points are squared for example; 1 bonus point = 1 chance in the drawing, 2 bonus points = 4 chances in the drawing, 3 bonus points = 9 chances in the drawing, etc.  The more times your name is in the drawing the higher your chances are of drawing a license.  This is a true lottery system.

Yes, if you have never hunted in Montana before we will need to enter your hunter’s safety certificate number, date of issue and state of issue during the online application process.

You will need a bow and arrow license if you are archery hunting in the state of Montana.  To obtain a bow and arrow license Montana FWP requires you to either; 1. enter the applicants bow hunter education course certificate, date of issue and state of issue OR 2. a previously held archery license in another state with the license number, date of issue and state of issue.  These are requirements.  If you do not have hunter’s safety education or bow hunter education you will need to do this.  There are online options available.

Be sure to check out our RESOURCES for essential gear recommendations.