Drawn West

Montana might be one of the most confusing application systems in the West—and if you don’t understand how it works, it’s really easy to waste money or burn points for no reason.

This episode is a full breakdown of the Montana draw system, but more importantly, how to actually make decisions inside of it. We walk through the difference between preference points and bonus points, how the combo licenses work, and why Montana’s system forces you to think multiple years ahead instead of just applying on a whim.

The biggest takeaway here isn’t just how the draw works—it’s how to decide when to apply, when to buy points, and when to sit out, depending on your situation. There are scenarios where having zero points is actually better than one, and others where a single decision can set you back years.

If Montana’s ever felt confusing, this will simplify it—and help you avoid some expensive mistakes.

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MontanaElk Application Strategy [2026]

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00:00 – Why Montana Confuses Everyone

02:15 – Key Deadlines (April 1 + Point Periods)

04:20 – Combo Licenses Explained

07:45 – Limited Entry Permits Breakdown

11:20 – Bonus Points vs Preference Points

14:45 – Why 0 Points Can Beat 1 Point

18:10 – Elk Strategy (What You Should Do)

21:50 – Deer Strategy (What You Should Do)

25:30 – Group Applications Explained

28:00 – Final Strategy + Multi-Year Planning

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Montana mule deer gets talked about like it’s an easy answer—but I don’t think it’s that simple. In this episode, I walk through Montana’s 2026 mule deer application strategy, what the tag really gets you, and what kind of hunt I think most non-residents should expect if they draw.

We cover deadline, cost, draw odds, population trends, limited entry vs. general, and the regions I’d be looking at depending on whether you want an easier hunt, less pressure, or a better crack at quality. I also share some honest thoughts on where Montana still makes sense in a mule deer strategy—and where I think people can talk themselves into it for the wrong reasons.

If you’re trying to figure out whether Montana deserves a spot in your application plan this year, this should help you make that call with a little more clarity.

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2026Montana Elk Application Strategy

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Montana elk is one of the best opportunities in the West — IF you can figure out the draw system.

In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down everything you need to know about applying for Montana elk in the 2026 application season. Montana is one of the most popular elk states for non-resident hunters, but it also has one of the most complicated draw systems in the West.

Brian walks through the April 1 application deadline, major 2026 rule changes, rising tag costs, and the new rule that Montana will purge preference points if you skip a year applying. He also explains how Montana’s two-tier system works — preference points for general tags and bonus points for limited entry permits — and why planning your strategy 2–3 years ahead matters.

You’ll also hear a breakdown of Montana’s elk regions, population trends, drought conditions, and how to find a good general unit using harvest data, public land filters, and terrain analysis.

Whether you’re applying for the first time or deciding how to use a stack of bonus points, this episode lays out a clear strategy for navigating one of the most confusing draws in Western hunting.

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2026New Mexico Application Strategy

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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest0:00 – Intro

0:45 – Montana Elk Application Deadline

2:00 – New Preference Point Rule

4:15 – Rising Elk Tag Prices

6:30 – Grizzly Bears in Montana Units

8:50 – Chronic Wasting Disease Concerns

11:45 – How Montana’s Draw System Works

16:30 – General Tags vs Limited Entry

21:30 – Montana Elk Regions Explained

26:00 – Best General Units to Start With

30:20 – How to Find Hidden Gem Units

34:40 – Strategy Based on Your Points

39:30 – Final Montana Elk Application Advice

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down the full strategy for applying in New Mexico’s big game draw, one of the most unique systems in the West.

Unlike most states, New Mexico has no point system, meaning every applicant has the same odds each year. Brian walks through how the three-choice draw system works, how to structure your hunt choices, and why New Mexico can be a great “swing for the fences” state—especially for elk hunters chasing giant bulls.

He also explains the resident vs non-resident tag allocations, the cost structure for applications, and how the New Mexico deadline lines up with other states like Wyoming. Finally, Brian breaks down each major species—elk, mule deer, pronghorn, sheep, ibex, and oryx—and shares when it might make sense to apply and when it might not.

If you’re building a western hunting application strategy, New Mexico might be the wildcard tag that changes your season.

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HowTo Draw a Tag in the West

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0:00 – Intro & Maven Sponsor2:05 – New Mexico Application Deadlines3:20 – How the New Mexico Draw System Works5:00 – Using Your Three Hunt Choices Strategically7:00 – Non-Resident Tag Allocation Explained9:20 – Costs and Application Fees12:15 – Elk Strategy & Trophy Units17:30 – Mule Deer Opportunities in New Mexico21:15 – Pronghorn Draw Odds and Access Challenges24:50 – Sheep, Ibex, and Exotic Species28:30 – Is New Mexico Worth Adding to Your Strategy?

In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian Krebs breaks down one of the most common dilemmas Western hunters face: when should you keep hunting the same unit—and when should you move on and try somewhere new?

After a recent ice-fishing trip to Devils Lake, Brian reflects on a conversation with friends about choosing between several Montana elk units. From thick black-timber grizzly country to open terrain better suited for spot-and-stalk, each unit has strengths and weaknesses. Brian walks through the exact criteria his group uses to evaluate hunts over time.

He explains why elk encounters, terrain, travel distance, hunting style compatibility, and public access all matter when deciding whether a unit deserves another chance. He also shares real examples from hunts in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and antelope country—highlighting both successes and lessons learned.

If you’re building a long-term Western hunting strategy or trying to find your own “cornerstone” unit, this episode will help you evaluate hunts more objectively and make smarter decisions year after year.

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How to GoElk Hunting for $1500

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Imagine this: Wyoming. Antelope tag in your pocket. Tough hunt. Then a giant buck steps out at 400 yards. You’re seated. Bipod down. Crosshairs steady. And you’re asking yourself one question: Do I take the shot?

Last week we talked long range. Today we’re talking about the part nobody really wants to admit — just because you can hit steel at 400… doesn’t mean you should shoot that buck at 400.

Brian breaks down the Shot Decision Triangle — the three variables that actually determine your effective range:

• Your caliber and bullet construction (energy, velocity thresholds, expansion windows)

• Your personal shooting ability and practice standard

• The real-time scenario (wind, animal movement, angle, stability, time of flight)

He walks through minimum energy benchmarks for common western species, explains how different bullet types behave at varying impact velocities, and lays out a practical field rule: cut the animal’s vital zone in half during practice to establish your real effective range.

The episode then transitions into archery — fixed vs expandable broadheads, penetration vs cut width, pass-through priorities, deer ducking strings, and how to honestly evaluate your range with a bow.

This isn’t about giving you a magic number. It’s about building a system so the answer becomes obvious when the moment arrives.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this episode sharpened your thinking, leave a 5-star rating and share it with a buddy who needs to hear it.

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https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/how-to-draw-a-tag-in-the-west

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00:00–08:45 — The 400-Yard PronghornDecision
08:45–24:30 — Bullet Construction, Energy & Velocity Explained
24:30–34:45 — The Practice Standard: Cut the Kill Zone in Half
34:45–44:30 — Wind, Angles, Stability & Time of Flight
44:30–56:45 — Archery: Broadheads, Penetration & Range Limits

How far is too far when it comes to rifle shots on big game?

In this episode, I sit down with Jayden Miller of West Elk Precision to break down what actually determines an ethical shot in the field — and it’s not just a number. We dive into zeroing properly, shooting positions, wind, cartridge selection, bullet performance, and how your real-world skill level changes everything.

We talk about the difference between shooting paper and shooting animals, how to test your true limits before season, and why ego ruins more hunts than bad equipment. Jayden also shares real-world examples from this season — including a 760-yard bull — and we unpack what went into that decision.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I take this shot?” — this episode gives you a framework to answer it yourself.

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https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/elk-hunting-knives

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0:00 – How Far Is Too Far?
0:19 – Meet Jayden Miller (West Elk Precision)
3:00 – What Counts as Long Range?
10:45 – The Importance of a True Zero
18:00 – Shooting Positions & Real-World Data
29:30 – Wind, Environment & Confidence
41:45 – Caliber & Bullet Performance Explained
58:00 – Breaking Down the 760-Yard Elk
1:12:00 – Ego vs Ethics in the Field
1:22:00 – Final Thoughts on Ethical Distance

You don’t need 20 points, a decade of waiting, or a once-in-a-lifetime tag to hunt the West consistently. If you’re willing to think strategically, you can build a system that gets you out there every single year.

In this episode, we break down exactly how to hunt elk, mule deer, or pronghorn every season by rotating states, stacking applications, and using Idaho and Colorado as strategic anchors. We dig into point creep, how to build preference points without wasting years, when to swing for the fences in places like Arizona or New Mexico, and how to structure a 5–10 year plan that actually compounds instead of resets.

If you’ve been wondering whether to build points or burn them, this episode gives you the framework to decide — before deadlines close.

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How To Draw a Tag in the West

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0:00 – Why You Need a Multi-Year Strategy
3:15 – Understanding Point Creep
7:02 – Rotating States & Species
11:30 – Pronghorn Annual Plan
16:14 – Mule Deer Rotation Explained
18:41 – Why Idaho Is a Strategic Anchor
23:20 – Mixing in Arizona & New Mexico
25:30 – Elk Every Year Strategy
28:41 – Wyoming & Montana Reality Check
32:57 – What Happens If Colorado Goes to a Draw
35:18 – Final Takeaways & Next Steps

If you want to hunt the West, drawing a tag isn’t a detail—it’s the entire game.

Western tags aren’t “grab one on the way to deer camp” — they’re a 6–12 month planning game, and this episode breaks the whole thing down in plain English. You’ll hear a listener question from Josh (Tennessee) who’s trying to get himself and his son out West this fall for mule deer or antelope with zero points, and we use his situation to walk through what’s actually realistic (and what’s just internet noise). From there, we lay out the four core draw systems (OTC, random/no-points, preference points, bonus points), why “easy to draw” often means “hard hunt,” and how point creep can quietly bury your long-term plan. Then we turn it into an actual strategy: short-term vs mid-term vs long-term rotations, plus a simple “application stacking” method to swing at multiple states in the same year without ending up with overlapping tags.

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00:00 – Why “draw a tag” is step one

If you’ve ever been curious about trapping but felt like it was confusing, intimidating, or just “not for people like me,” this episode is for you.

I sit down with Zach from Okayest Trapper to talk through what getting started actually looks like when you didn’t grow up trapping. The mistakes, the learning curve, the frozen ground, the gear decisions, and why most people underestimate how much work (and problem-solving) is involved.

We cover how trapper education works in different states, how trapping changes the way you think about animals and habitat, and why so many hunters eventually get drawn into it — even if they never planned to. We also talk honestly about fur, conservation, and whether trapping is something that stays a hobby or can turn into something more over time.

If you hunt, own land, or just want to understand another side of the outdoor world without the gatekeeping, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what trapping really is — and whether it’s something you’d ever want to try.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this helped you see trapping differently, leave a 5-star rating and share it with someone who’s been curious but unsure where to start.

Check out our latest article:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/elk-hunting-knives

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https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb00:00 – Collab kickoff + trapping bug

01:45 – How Idaho vs Minnesota trapping education works

06:15 – Early exposure to trapping culture (and what changed)

09:45 – “Why am I doing this?” — the addiction to challenge

14:10 – Trap prep debate: boil, rust, dye, wax… or just run them

18:10 – Anchors vs drags + frozen ground problems

23:00 – Cable restraints: lighter, faster, more scalable

26:10 – Collector mode: species goals (fox, coon, coyote, fisher, bobcat)

31:45 – Fur boom talk + could markets ever come back?

41:15 – Alternative markets: squirrels, gophers, skulls, and making it pencil