Types

• There are different types of elk and deer hunting in Montana. This year, Montana has changed its regulations so there is an Elk A and Elk B license. Elk A is a brow-tined bull elk license. Elk B is an antlerless elk license. Deer licenses are divided into Deer A (antlered) and Deer B (antlerless). Some game management units require special permits to take mule deer. You will have to check the management units you intend to hunt to determine if you can hunt mule deer in those units.
  
  

Time Frame

• Hunting season for deer and elk in 2010 starts September 4 for archery and goes until Oct. 17. Youth (deer only) is Oct. 21 and 22. General season deer and elk starts Oct. 23 and goes through Nov. 28. Backcountry management units start on Sept.15 and run through Nov. 28.
  
  

Geography

• Hunting across Montana requires you to understand the game management units. Each game management unit has distinct rules. For example, you may be able to hunt whitetail deer, but not mule deer. Some game management units will allow you to hunt either sex, while others require special draw tags for a particular sex and species.
  
  

Cost

• If you are a resident in Montana, you will pay $16 for a Deer A tag and $20 for an Elk A tag. If you are out of state, expect to pay at least $643 in a special drawing for those tags, but you also get your upland birds, fishing and conservation license.
  
  

Identification

• You should know the difference between a mule deer and a whitetail deer as some areas do not allow you to take mule deer. Mule deer have bigger ears, ropey tails and antlers that fork and fork again. Whitetails have large tails that flip up like a white flag when they are alarmed. Their ears are smaller than a mule deer and their antlers branch from a single beam. You will also need to know the difference between elk and moose.