Unit 104-50 (Kootenai / Yaak Moose 104-50)

Montana Hunting Guide — Moose

Moose permit 104-50 is a limited-quota shiras moose opportunity in northwest Montana's Kootenai and Yaak country. Permits are issued through FWP's special drawing. We recommend reviewing current FWP regulations, boundary detail, and legal-moose criteria before applying for HD 104-50.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit 104-50

Where to Find Moose in HD 104-50

Northwest Montana shiras moose use willow-lined creek bottoms, wet cedar-hemlock bottoms, and clearcut regeneration edges throughout the Kootenai and Yaak drainages. We focus scouting on beaver complexes, wet meadows, and old burns with vigorous browse regeneration.

Logging-road access is extensive, though many roads are gated seasonally. Cross-reference Plan-a-Hunt overlays with Kootenai National Forest travel plans for current road status.

How to Hunt Moose in HD 104-50

We hunt HD 104-50 as a combination scout-and-still-hunt. Use logging roads to glass openings morning and evening, then still-hunt through willow-and-alder bottoms during the day. Cow calls during the late-September rut can pull bulls into range that glassing alone misses.

Recovery from wet Kootenai bottoms is demanding. Plan frame-pack or horse support in advance and review FWP regulations for weapon and reporting requirements.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle72%

Montana shiras moose permit holders generally fill at very high rates. Review the FWP harvest report portal for HD 104-50 district-specific outcomes before hunt planning.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	4	203	2.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

HD 104-50 showed roughly 170 three-year applicants against about 5 permits — per-draw odds near 3% without bonus points. Montana's weighted bonus-point system improves long-run odds for persistent applicants. Confirm current figures on the FWP drawing statistics page.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Wet cedar-hemlock bottoms, dense willow-alder complexes, and steep timbered sidehills dominate.

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Hunting Pressure

Low for moose specifically. General deer and elk traffic exists in road-accessible portions.

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Weather

Northwest Montana is wet. Plan for sustained rain and early snow at elevation.

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Permit Notes

All HD 104-50 permits are issued through FWP's special drawing.

Note: Verify current USFS road-closure status before the opener because Kootenai NF gates change seasonally.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is grizzly bear presence a concern in HD 104-50?

The Kootenai and Yaak drainages host grizzly bears as part of the Cabinet-Yaak recovery area. Carry bear spray, practice careful meat-care procedures, and review current FWP bear-awareness materials before hunting.

Can I rely on logging roads for HD 104-50 access?

Logging road coverage is extensive but many roads are gated seasonally. Confirm current road-closure status with the Kootenai National Forest travel map before planning access.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

FWP Plan-a-Hunt — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: HD 104-50 boundary, Kootenai National Forest overlay · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Hunt Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Moose season dates, Tooth submission and checkout rules · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Applicant-to-permit history for HD 104-50, Bonus-point progression · accessed 2026-04-17