Numbers are down pretty much everywhere in Montana, that and the changes and price hike of NR tags makes them easy to get.
I live in NW Montana, and between the severity and duration of winters, and predation the numbers are pretty low. Bow for Elk, your best odds are probably around Bozeman or Butte, middle of September. Odds for a mule deer are so low anywhere it's not worth arguing over. Whitetails, they're no different than anywhere else in the world. Lean your bow against a tree and walk 5 yards away and hang your butt over tree, and a buck will magically appear.