Unit 311-50 (Gallatin / Madison Moose 311-50)

Montana Hunting Guide — Moose

Moose permit 311-50 covers a limited-quota shiras moose opportunity in southwest Montana's Gallatin country. Permits for HD 311-50 are issued through the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) special drawing, and applicant demand typically exceeds quotas by a wide margin. We recommend reviewing current FWP regulations for eligibility, season dates, and any sex/age restrictions before applying for this tag.

View Draw Odds Montana Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit 311-50

Where to Find Moose in HD 311-50

Shiras moose in HD 311-50 favor willow-lined creek bottoms, beaver complexes, and mid-elevation riparian shelves where the Gallatin and surrounding drainages support dense aquatic browse. We focus scouting on stream confluences, subalpine meadows with standing water, and north-aspect timber adjacent to willow flats where bulls bed during the day.

Use the FWP Hunt Planner to overlay public-land polygons, road closures, and access easements inside the district before the season. Morning and evening glassing from ridge shoulders above willow bottoms is the most efficient way to locate moose without pressuring them out of the drainage.

How to Hunt Moose in HD 311-50

Because the quota is small and bulls tend to hold predictable daily patterns, we treat HD 311-50 as a glassing-and-ambush hunt. Arrive days before the opener, pattern a specific bull, and intercept him on a feeding route between willow bottoms and bedding timber. Cow-in-heat calling during the late-September rut can pull a bull into a shooting lane when patterning is not enough.

Plan recovery before you pull the trigger. A down moose in willow bottoms is a multi-trip pack-out, so scout nearest vehicle access, trail routes, and pack-animal or raft possibilities in advance. Review FWP regulations for weapon restrictions, mandatory tooth submission, and evidence-of-sex rules before the hunt.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle72%

FWP reports indicate Montana shiras moose permit holders typically post very high success rates once a tag is drawn — often in the 80%+ range district-wide — reflecting low quotas and concentrated effort. Review the FWP harvest report portal for HD 311-50 specific outcomes before planning.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General	2	169	1.2%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Moose permits for HD 311-50 flow through FWP's special drawing under Montana's bonus point system. Three-year applicant counts near 212 against roughly 2 permits annually imply long-term odds well below 1% per draw for applicants without accumulated points. Bonus points weight the draw but never guarantee a tag — check the FWP drawing statistics page each spring for the current picture.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Willow bottoms and sidehill timber require slow, quiet movement, and recovery from creek corridors can mean extended pack-outs.

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Hunting Pressure

Pressure is low because of the tiny permit quota, but non-moose hunters and anglers may be present along popular drainage access points.

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Weather

Plan for cold mornings, possible early snow, and wet willow bottoms. Layered systems and waterproof boots are non-negotiable.

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Permit Notes

All HD 311-50 licenses are issued through the FWP special drawing. Review current regulations and apply before posted deadlines.

Note: Coordinate early with FWP biologists for the most current moose sighting and recent harvest information inside HD 311-50.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to draw Montana moose permit 311-50?

Very hard. With roughly 212 three-year applicants and only about 2 permits issued, per-draw odds sit well under 1% for applicants without bonus points. Bonus points improve long-run odds but do not guarantee a tag.

Where can I find official regulations for HD 311-50 moose?

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks publishes current season dates, legal-moose criteria, and drawing details on fwp.mt.gov. Always confirm specifics through the Plan-a-Hunt tool and the annual regulations PDF before hunting.

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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: Moose hunting district boundary identification, Public access and land ownership layers · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Hunt Regulations — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Moose season structure, Legal-moose criteria and checkout rules · accessed 2026-04-17
FWP Drawing Statistics — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · supports: Historical applicant and quota counts, Bonus point progression for moose · accessed 2026-04-17