Unit 261-50 (Pioneer / Big Hole Moose 261-50)

Montana Hunting Guide — Moose

Moose permit 261-50 is a limited-quota shiras moose opportunity in southwest Montana's Pioneer Mountains and Big Hole country. Tags for HD 261-50 are distributed through the FWP special drawing and are among the more contested moose permits in Montana. We recommend confirming legal-moose criteria, weapon rules, and boundary detail through FWP Plan-a-Hunt before applying.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit 261-50

Where to Find Moose in HD 261-50

Shiras bulls in HD 261-50 hold along willow-rich creek drainages, boggy meadows, and mixed conifer-riparian edges throughout the Pioneer and Big Hole country. We concentrate scouting on beaver flowages, lake outlets, and subalpine meadows where standing water supports aquatic browse through September.

Glassing high-benches at first and last light reveals bulls moving between bedding and feeding habitat. Cross-reference public-land layers in Plan-a-Hunt with recent FWP harvest reports before planning an access route.

How to Hunt Moose in HD 261-50

We treat HD 261-50 as a patterning hunt. Arrive multiple days ahead of the opener, identify a specific bull using a willow drainage, and set a daylight ambush near a travel lane. Cow calls during the late-September rut can pull a reluctant bull the last 100 yards into range when patterning is not enough.

Recovery planning is critical — moose down in wet bottoms usually require multi-trip pack-outs. Stage pack frames, game bags, and cooler logistics before the hunt, and review FWP regulations for weapon options and check-in requirements.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle72%

Montana shiras moose permit holders generally post very high hunt success rates once tags are in hand. Reference the FWP harvest report portal for HD 261-50 specific outcomes and trend data before hunt planning.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	2	209	1.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

HD 261-50 issues tags through FWP's special drawing under the Montana bonus point system. Three-year applicant counts near 209 against roughly 2 permits imply long-run per-draw odds near 1% for applicants without bonus points. Review current FWP drawing statistics before applying.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. Willow bottoms, boggy crossings, and mixed forest require patient travel and careful recovery planning.

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Hunting Pressure

Low for moose specifically, but multi-use recreation and other big-game hunters can be present along access points.

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Weather

Expect cold nights, variable autumn storms, and possible early snow at elevation.

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Permit Notes

All HD 261-50 tags are special-draw only. Review current FWP regulations and apply before posted deadlines.

Note: Contact FWP Region 3 biologists for current moose sighting trends inside HD 261-50 when planning scouting trips.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What species of moose occur in HD 261-50?

HD 261-50 supports shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi), the smallest of the North American moose subspecies. FWP publishes current population estimates and harvest trends district by district.

Are non-residents eligible for HD 261-50 moose permits?

Non-residents can apply for Montana moose permits, though quotas and eligibility rules are updated annually. Always confirm current eligibility on fwp.mt.gov before applying.

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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 261-50 boundary geometry, Public-land overlay and access points · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Hunt Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Moose season dates, Mandatory checkout and tooth submission · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Applicant-to-quota history for HD 261-50, Bonus point draw weighting · accessed 2026-04-17