Montana Unit 220 Moose Hunting Guide

Montana Unit 220 moose hunting is about as limited-entry as big game hunting gets in the state — a small, tightly controlled draw hunt covering a large, mostly public landscape stretching from 2,613 to 7,739 feet in elevation. For hunters willing to commit years to the application process, this unit offers one of the more compelling moose opportunities in Montana, backed by consistently strong harvest outcomes and a landscape that's almost entirely open to public access. This article breaks down what the data actually shows about Unit 220, so hunters can decide whether it belongs on their long-term application strategy.

Unit 220 spans 301,595 acres, with 95% of that ground in public ownership. That percentage is exceptional by western standards — the vast majority of this unit is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private land access or lease agreements. There is no wilderness designation within the unit, which means access roads and trail systems reach into most of the terrain without the additional restrictions that come with formally designated wilderness areas.

Hunt Structure: This Is a Draw-Only Unit

There is no general season for moose in Unit 220. Every moose hunt here — including hunts for antlered, either-sex animals — is limited-quota and allocated through Montana's draw system. This isn't a unit where hunters can buy an over-the-counter tag and show up; a hunter must be drawn for a specific limited-quota permit before setting foot in the field with a moose tag in hand. That structure is standard for moose across Montana, where the species is managed conservatively and permit numbers are kept low to protect herd health and trophy quality.

Because every hunt is limited-quota, demand for Unit 220 tags is heavily contested, and nonresident and resident applicants alike should expect this to be a long-term point-building proposition rather than a hunt they can plan for next fall. Montana's moose draw uses a squared bonus-point system, meaning points are squared plus one to calculate a hunter's number of entries in the draw — but no point total guarantees a tag. This remains a weighted lottery all the way up the point scale, so hunters should not assume that "maxing out" points secures a permit. For the most current draw odds, tag numbers, and point-level breakdowns specific to Unit 220, check HuntPilot's Montana unit page rather than relying on historical assumptions, since these figures shift from year to year.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest data for Unit 220 is remarkably consistent, which is common in low-volume moose units where the sample size is small but hunter effort and success track closely. Over the four most recent years of available data:

• 2024: 3 hunters, 2 harvested — 67% success
• 2023: 3 hunters, 2 harvested — 67% success
• 2022: 3 hunters, 3 harvested — 100% success
• 2021: 3 hunters, 3 harvested — 100% success

Across all four years, success rates never dropped below 67%, and half of those years produced a perfect 100% success rate. With only three hunters afield in each of these seasons, this is an extremely low-volume hunt — exactly what should be expected from a unit where every tag is issued through limited-quota draw allocation. The takeaway for hunters is that those who draw a Unit 220 moose tag have historically converted that opportunity into a harvested animal at a very high rate. This isn't a unit where hunters spend a week glassing and go home empty-handed more often than not — the data shows the opposite pattern over four consecutive years.

That said, hunters should interpret these numbers with the appropriate context: a sample size of three hunters per year means that a single unsuccessful hunter shifts the success percentage by roughly 33 points. The consistency across four years, however, suggests this isn't statistical noise — it points to a genuinely huntable population with good field conditions for locating and closing on animals once a hunter has a tag in hand.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data tied to the counties overlapping Unit 220 shows a moderate history of trophy-class moose production. This is not a unit associated with a heavy concentration of record-book entries, but it also isn't devoid of trophy history — moderate production suggests hunters have periodically taken quality bulls from this landscape over time, without the unit rising to elite trophy status on a regional or statewide basis.

It's worth noting that trophy records are logged at the county level, not by specific hunt unit boundaries, so the moderate trophy history associated with Unit 220's overlapping counties reflects animals that could have been taken anywhere within those counties, including neighboring units. Hunters should treat this as a general indicator of regional trophy potential rather than a unit-specific guarantee. Given the moderate qualitative rating, hunters drawing a tag here should have realistic expectations: this is a unit capable of producing solid, mature bulls, but it isn't positioned among the state's top-tier trophy factories based on the available record history.

Access & Terrain

With 95% public land across 301,595 acres, Unit 220 is about as accessible as a limited-entry moose unit gets. DIY-minded hunters who draw a tag here won't need to worry about navigating a patchwork of private parcels or securing landowner permission — the overwhelming majority of the unit is open for hunters to scout, glass, and hunt without additional access hurdles.

The elevation range — from 2,613 feet at the low end up to 7,739 feet — indicates a unit with substantial vertical relief, likely encompassing lower valley terrain up through subalpine habitat typical of quality moose range in western Montana. Moose generally favor riparian corridors, willow bottoms, and timbered draws at the lower-to-mid elevations within that range, transitioning into higher basins as summer progresses. With zero wilderness acreage in the unit, hunters won't face the additional access complexity that comes with designated wilderness areas — there's no special gear restriction or motorized-access prohibition tied to a wilderness boundary here, which can simplify logistics for hunters packing in gear and, eventually, a moose.

Hunters should use HuntPilot's mapping tools to overlay public land boundaries and terrain contour data across the unit before the season to identify likely drainages, water sources, and glassing points based on the elevation band and habitat type they're targeting.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 220 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available, Unit 220 is worth serious consideration for hunters building a long-term Montana moose application strategy — with realistic expectations set from the outset. The strongest argument in favor of this unit is the harvest data: four consecutive years of success rates at 67% or better, including two years of 100% success, is a genuinely strong track record for a limited-entry moose hunt. Hunters who draw here have historically gone home with an animal far more often than not.

The 95% public land figure is another major point in this unit's favor. Few limited-entry moose units anywhere in the West offer this level of public access, and it removes one of the biggest logistical headaches hunters face in other units — negotiating private land access for a species that often concentrates near riparian habitat that frequently sits on private ground elsewhere.

The trade-off is trophy quality. The moderate trophy history associated with the surrounding counties suggests this isn't a unit chasing record-book status, and hunters should draw here expecting a solid, huntable bull rather than a shot at an elite-class trophy. For hunters whose primary goal is simply drawing a moose tag and having a strong chance at filling it on public land, Unit 220's data supports that goal well. For hunters singularly focused on trophy potential above all else, the moderate trophy rating means this unit should be weighed against other options with stronger trophy pedigrees before committing years of point accumulation to it.

Given that every hunt in this unit is limited-quota, hunters need to treat this as a genuine long-term investment. This is not a unit to plan a hunt around next season — it's a unit to add to a multi-year point strategy, tracked through HuntPilot's draw odds data as tag numbers and demand shift year to year.

How to Apply

Montana moose tags are allocated entirely through the state's limited-quota draw system — there is no over-the-counter option for moose anywhere in the state, and Unit 220 is no exception. Residents and nonresidents apply through separate pools, and Montana uses a squared bonus-point system where a hunter's number of draw entries is calculated from their accumulated points. Critically, no point total guarantees a tag in Montana's moose draw — even hunters with a substantial point history face a weighted lottery rather than a certain outcome.

Residents and nonresidents should expect different levels of competition for Unit 220 permits, with nonresident tag numbers typically far more restricted than resident allocations in Montana's moose draw structure generally. Because points do not guarantee a permit and the draw remains competitive at every point level, hunters should apply annually to keep accumulating points and improving their statistical position in the draw, rather than waiting for a "sure thing" point total that doesn't exist in this system.

Application dates, fees, and current draw odds change every cycle. For the most current deadlines, costs, and draw statistics specific to Unit 220, visit HuntPilot's Montana state page at /states/mt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Montana Unit 220? Unit 220 covers 301,595 acres with elevations ranging from 2,613 to 7,739 feet, indicating substantial vertical relief from lower valley terrain up into subalpine habitat. There is no designated wilderness within the unit, meaning access isn't complicated by wilderness-specific restrictions. Moose hunters should expect a mix of riparian corridors, timbered draws, and higher-elevation basins typical of quality moose habitat in this part of Montana.

What is harvest success like for moose hunters in Unit 220? Harvest success has been strong and consistent in recent years. Data from 2021 through 2024 shows success rates of 100%, 100%, 67%, and 67% respectively, with only three hunters afield in each of those seasons. This indicates that hunters who draw a Unit 220 moose tag have a historically high likelihood of harvesting an animal.

How big are the moose in Unit 220? Trophy record data tied to the counties overlapping Unit 220 shows a moderate history of trophy-class moose. This suggests the unit can produce solid, mature bulls, but it isn't among the region's top trophy producers based on available record history. Hunters should set realistic expectations rather than targeting this unit purely for record-book potential.

Is Unit 220 worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — particularly for hunters prioritizing a strong likelihood of success and excellent public land access. With 95% public land and a multi-year harvest success rate consistently at 67% or better, this unit rewards hunters who draw a tag. The moderate trophy history means it's better suited to hunters focused on filling a tag on quality public ground than those chasing an elite trophy above all else.

How does the Montana moose draw work for Unit 220? Every moose hunt in Unit 220 is allocated through Montana's limited-quota draw — there is no general season option. Montana uses a squared bonus-point system for separate resident and nonresident applicant pools, but no point level guarantees a tag; it remains a weighted lottery at every point total. Hunters should check HuntPilot's Montana unit page for current draw odds and tag figures before applying.