Montana Unit 413 Mule Deer Hunting Guide
Montana Unit 413 deer hunting draws consistent interest from hunters across the region, and for good reason — this is a large, geographically diverse unit that spans nearly 878,000 acres with an elevation range stretching from 3,313 feet up to 9,178 feet. That kind of vertical relief creates a mosaic of terrain types, from lower sagebrush and grassland country to timbered slopes and high ridgelines, giving deer multiple seasonal habitat zones to exploit. Understanding the unit's land composition, harvest history, and application requirements is essential before committing to an application.
One figure hunters need to understand upfront: only 42% of Unit 413 is public land. That means the majority of the unit — well over half — is private ground. This is not an open-range, walk-anywhere unit. Hunters planning a DIY public land hunt will need to study maps carefully, identify accessible public parcels, and accept that their access footprint is meaningfully constrained compared to higher-public-land units in Montana. That reality shapes both strategy and expectations before a single step is taken in the field.
Despite the access limitations, Unit 413 sees substantial hunting pressure and produces measurable harvests year over year. The unit has no wilderness designation, which simplifies access logistics — all public land in the unit is reachable without the guide requirements that apply to wilderness areas in other western states. For hunters willing to do the legwork on land access, Unit 413 offers a real deer hunting opportunity in genuinely varied terrain.
Harvest Success Rates
The harvest data for Unit 413 gives hunters a concrete baseline for setting expectations. In 2023, the unit hosted 5,568 hunters and produced 1,488 harvested deer — a 27% overall success rate. That's a meaningful data point: roughly one in four hunters went home with a deer. Two years prior, in 2021, 3,804 hunters were in the field and 1,163 deer were harvested, yielding a 31% success rate.
A few things stand out in that comparison. First, the hunter count jumped significantly between 2021 and 2023 — up nearly 1,800 hunters. That's a 46% increase in pressure over just two years. Second, despite the increased pressure, the raw harvest number also increased (from 1,163 to 1,488), but the per-hunter success rate dropped four percentage points. That's a classic pattern when a unit absorbs a surge in applicants: more tags issued, more competition for available animals, slightly lower per-hunter odds.
A 27–31% success rate is competitive for a unit of this size and land composition. Hunters going in with realistic expectations — understanding that the private land majority will funnel public land hunters into specific zones — will be better prepared to make the most of a successful draw. Hunters who invest time in pre-season scouting, particularly in identifying accessible public parcels and transition zones between public and private ground, tend to outperform the average.
Trophy Quality
Counties overlapping Unit 413 carry a moderate history of trophy-class deer production. This is not an elite, destination-tier trophy unit on the level of some of Montana's most coveted limited-entry draws, but it is not without a history of quality bucks either. Hunters who specifically target mature mule deer or whitetail (depending on the species composition in their target area within the unit) and are willing to pass on younger bucks can realistically encounter trophy-class animals over the course of a season.
The moderate trophy history here is consistent with what hunters should expect from a unit that sees significant pressure and has a large private land component — many mature deer exist on ground that hunters simply cannot access without landowner permission. The public land bucks tend to face heavier hunting pressure, which naturally filters out some of the oldest age classes. Hunters with a specific trophy goal should go in with open eyes: the unit has produced quality animals, but it is not a unit where trophy-class deer are the norm on public ground.
Herd Health & Population Trends
The harvest numbers themselves provide indirect insight into herd condition. The jump from 3,804 hunters in 2021 to 5,568 in 2023 — while maintaining a harvest of 1,488 animals — suggests the deer population was capable of supporting increased harvest pressure without catastrophic success rate collapse. The 27% figure in 2023 is lower than 2021's 31%, but the unit was absorbing significantly more hunters. That relative resilience in harvest numbers is a moderate positive signal.
Hunters should be aware, however, that Montana's deer populations across the state have faced pressure from harsh winters, drought cycles, and predation in various regions. Without specific wildlife survey data for Unit 413 in the provided records, the harvest trend is the best available proxy — and it suggests the unit was in functional shape heading into recent seasons. Hunters are always encouraged to consult Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for the most current population and survey data before applying.
Access & Terrain
Unit 413 spans 878,034 acres across an elevation range of 3,313 to 9,178 feet — nearly 6,000 feet of vertical relief within a single unit. That range means hunters encounter dramatically different terrain and vegetation types depending on where they focus. Lower elevations tend toward open, rolling country with sagebrush, grasslands, and agricultural transition zones. Mid-elevations introduce more timber and mixed vegetation. The upper reaches of the unit's elevation band involve steeper, rougher terrain more typical of Montana mountain hunting.
The 42% public land figure is the most important access factor to internalize. In practical terms, hunters need to identify which specific public parcels are accessible, whether those parcels hold deer habitat worth hunting, and how they connect (or don't) to adjacent private ground. Public land in units with this kind of private land majority is often fragmented or positioned in less productive terrain — though that is not universally true and good public land pockets do exist in many such units.
There is no wilderness within Unit 413, which is operationally relevant: hunters do not need to worry about pack-in-only access, horse requirements, or guide mandates associated with designated wilderness. The entirety of the public land in this unit is accessible by foot and, in many areas, by vehicle using standard road systems. This makes the unit approachable for DIY hunters — provided they identify the right public ground.
For nonresident hunters, Montana does not require a licensed guide to hunt non-wilderness public land, unlike Wyoming's wilderness mandate. Nonresidents can hunt Unit 413 DIY without a guide obligation, though the private land majority means access scouting is critical regardless of residency.
HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 413 Worth Applying For?
Unit 413 is a solid, honest deer hunting unit — not a trophy-factory dream draw, but a legitimate opportunity unit with a meaningful success rate and enough terrain diversity to reward hunters who put in preparation work. Here is the balanced read:
The case for applying: The 27–31% success rate over recent seasons is real and competitive. The unit is large, elevation-diverse, and has no wilderness complications. Montana's bonus point system means that hunters who apply and don't draw still accumulate points, keeping the long-term strategy intact. The application fees are low-barrier — $5 application fee plus license and tag fees — making this an accessible draw to enter without significant financial commitment upfront.
The case for caution: The 42% public land figure is the unit's biggest limitation for DIY hunters. Hunters without landowner access or the ability to secure permission on private ground will be competing for a minority share of the unit's acreage. The surge in hunter numbers between 2021 and 2023 is worth watching — if that trend continues, success rates could compress further. Trophy expectations should be calibrated to the unit's moderate history rather than top-tier Montana draw units.
Bottom line: For hunters seeking a realistic opportunity to harvest a deer in diverse Montana terrain, Unit 413 is worth a serious look. For hunters whose primary goal is a record-book buck, this unit is probably not the ceiling they are looking for. The unit fits best for hunters who want an achievable tag in good country and will invest time in public land access research.
For current draw odds, visit the HuntPilot unit page at huntpilot.ai/states/mt — draw odds shift year to year as applicant pools and quota adjustments change.
How to Apply
Montana's deer draw for Unit 413 operates on a straightforward calendar. For 2026, applications open March 1, 2026 and the deadline is April 1, 2026. Draw results are posted April 15, 2026. Both residents and nonresidents follow the same application window, for both regular and antlerless permits.
Resident hunters should budget the following for a 2026 application:
- Application fee: $5
- License fee: $8.00 (required to apply — must be purchased before submitting an application)
- Tag fee: $8 (antlerless) or $10 (regular), depending on the permit type
- Bonus point fee: $2
Nonresident hunters should plan for higher tag costs:
- Application fee: $5
- License fee: $65.00 (required to apply — must be purchased before submitting)
- Tag fee: $75 or $125 depending on the permit type
- Bonus point fee: $20
The license fee is not optional — Montana requires hunters to hold a valid hunting license before their draw application can be processed. Nonresidents in particular should factor the $65 license cost into their total application budget, as it is due upfront regardless of draw outcome.
Montana uses a bonus point system for deer. Each year a hunter applies and does not draw, they accumulate a bonus point, which improves their odds in subsequent years (entries = points² + 1). Hunters new to Montana deer draws should apply early in their career to start building points, even in years when they don't expect to draw a top-tier unit.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Montana Unit 413? Unit 413 covers nearly 878,000 acres with an elevation range of 3,313 to 9,178 feet — roughly 6,000 feet of vertical relief. The lower elevations feature open sagebrush, grasslands, and agricultural transition areas, while mid- and upper-elevation zones include timbered slopes and more rugged mountain terrain. The unit has no wilderness designation, so all public land is accessible without pack-in requirements. However, at 42% public land, the majority of the unit is private ground, and hunters should plan their access strategy accordingly before the season.
What is the harvest success rate in Montana Unit 413? Recent data shows consistent, if modest, success rates. In 2023, 5,568 hunters produced 1,488 harvested deer for a 27% overall success rate. In 2021, 3,804 hunters harvested 1,163 deer at a 31% success rate. The drop in per-hunter success between those two years coincided with a significant increase in hunting pressure — nearly 1,800 additional hunters in the field in 2023. Hunters who access less-pressured public ground and invest in pre-season scouting consistently outperform the unit average.
How big are the deer in Montana Unit 413? Counties overlapping Unit 413 have a moderate history of trophy-class deer production. This is not among Montana's elite trophy units, but quality bucks do come out of this country. The private land majority in the unit means that a significant portion of the oldest, largest deer live on ground inaccessible without landowner permission. Hunters focused on trophy quality should set realistic expectations for public land access — mature animals exist, but they are not the statistical norm on pressured public parcels.
Is Montana Unit 413 worth applying for? For hunters seeking a legitimate deer hunting opportunity in varied Montana terrain, yes — Unit 413 is worth applying for. The 27–31% success rate is real, the terrain is diverse, and the application costs are low. The unit is best suited to hunters who prioritize opportunity and experience over a guaranteed trophy hunt. The 42% public land figure is the primary limitation: hunters without private land access will need to work harder to find productive ground. For current draw odds and point requirements, check the HuntPilot unit page at huntpilot.ai/states/mt.
Does Montana Unit 413 require a guide for nonresidents? No. Unit 413 has no designated wilderness, and Montana does not impose a guide requirement for nonresidents hunting non-wilderness public land. Nonresident hunters can pursue deer in Unit 413 on a fully DIY basis. That said, with 58% of the unit in private ownership, nonresidents who want to maximize their access options should research landowner permission opportunities well in advance of the season.