Montana Hunting Seasons 2023-2024 New Dates & Regulations

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Montana is a hunting enthusiast’s dream come true with its abundant game herds, long hunting seasons, and vast expanse of public and private lands. The hunting seasons in Montana are designed by the state’s game managers to offer a diverse range of hunting opportunities while ensuring the sustainability of its wildlife. This guide aims to provide hunters with the most straightforward information on the Montana hunting seasons 2023-2024, including the dates, rules, bag limits, license requirements, and useful links. Whether you are a seasoned hunter or new to the sport, this guide has all the information you need to plan your next hunting trip to Montana. So, let’s dive in and start exploring the hunting opportunities in the state.

Montana Hunting Seasons

Montana provides a wonderful hunting experience for big game hunters, with many possibilities to hunt antelope, bison, black bear, elk, and mountain lions. Residents and non-residents alike may easily get hunting licenses and permits via the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department’s online platform or at numerous locations around the state. Non-residents may also purchase combination permits for elk and deer hunting. A permission may be acquired to legally recover a deer, moose, elk, or antelope that is inadvertently killed in a car collision.

Hunting Season for Deer and Elk in Montana

The Montana Deer and Elk hunting season is a much-anticipated event for hunters in the area. The following are the specific dates for the special Elk shoulder season, according to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

Antelope Season

Montana Antelope SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
900 seriesTuesday, August 15, 2023Sunday, November 12, 2023
ArcherySaturday, September 02, 2023Friday, October 06, 2023
GeneralSaturday, October 07, 2023Sunday, November 12, 2023
MT Deer hunting season
MT Deer hunting season

Deer and Elk Season

Montana Deer and Elk SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End DateNote
ArcherySaturday, September 02, 2023Sunday, October 15, 2023
Youth (deer only)Thursday, October 19, 2023Friday, October 20, 2023
GeneralSaturday, October 21, 2023Sunday, November 26, 2023
Shoulder seasonsTuesday, August 15, 2023Wednesday, February 15, 2023varying dates before and/or after the archery and general seasons
MuzzleloaderSaturday, December 09, 2023Sunday, December 17, 2023
Archery (Backcountry - HD's 150, 280)Sunday, September 03, 2023Thursday, September 14, 2023
General (Backcountry - HD's 150, 280)Friday, September 15, 2023Monday, November 27, 2023
Archery (Backcountry - HD 316)Sunday, September 03, 2023Thursday, September 14, 2023Achery only

Moose Season

Montana Moose SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Black Bear (Spring)Friday, September 15, 2023Sunday, November 26, 2023

Big Horn Sheep Season

Montana Big Horn Sheep SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
ArcherySaturday, September 02, 2023Thursday, September 14, 2023
GeneralFriday, September 15, 2023Sunday, November 26, 2023

Mountain Goat Season

Montana Mountain Goat SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Mountain GoatFriday, September 15, 2023Sunday, November 26, 2023

Bison Season

Montana Bison SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
BisonWednesday, November 15, 2023Thursday, February 15, 2024

Bear Season

Montana Bear SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Black Bear (Spring)Saturday, April 15, 2023May 31 or June 15
Black Bear (Spring Hound Hunting)Saturday, April 15, 2023Thursday, May 25, 2023
Black Bear (Spring Hound Training)Thursday, June 01, 2023Thursday, June 15, 2023
Black Bear (Archery)Saturday, September 02, 2023Thursday, September 14, 2023
Black Bear (Fall)Friday, September 15, 2023Sunday, November 26, 2023

Mountain Lion Season

Montana Mountain Lion SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Archery (without dogs)Sunday, September 03, 2023Monday, October 16, 2023
Fall (without dogs)Sunday, October 22, 2023Monday, November 27, 2023
WinterFriday, December 01, 2023Sunday, April 14, 2024
Resident Hound Training SeasonSaturday, December 02, 2023Sunday, April 14, 2024

Wolf Season

Montana Wolf SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Archery3-Sep14-Sep
General15-Sep15-Mar
Trapping28-Nov15-Mar

Migratory Birds Season

Monatana Migratory Birds SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Common (Wilson's) Snipe (Statewide)Friday, September 01, 2023Saturday, December 16, 2023
Mourning Dove (Statewide)Friday, September 01, 2023Monday, October 30, 2023
Youth Waterfowl (Statewide)Sunday, September 24, 2023Monday, September 25, 2023
Ducks (including Mergansers) (Pacific Flyway)Sunday, October 01, 2023Saturday, January 13, 2024
Coots (Pacific Flyway)Sunday, October 01, 2023Saturday, January 13, 2024
Geese (Pacific Flyway)Sunday, October 01, 2023Saturday, January 13, 2024
Falconry: Ducks (including Mergansers), Coots and Geese (Pacific Flyway)Sunday, October 01, 2023Saturday, January 13, 2024
Ducks (including Mergansers) (Central Flyway - Zone 1)Sunday, October 01, 2023Friday, January 05, 2024
Ducks (including Mergansers) (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 01, 2023Monday, October 09, 2023
Ducks (including Mergansers) (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 22, 2023Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Coots (Central Flyway - Zone 1)Sunday, October 01, 2023Friday, January 05, 2024
Coots (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 01, 2023Monday, October 09, 2023
Sunday, October 22, 2023Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Geese (Central Flyway - Zone 1)Sunday, October 01, 2023Saturday, January 13, 2024
Geese (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 01, 2023Monday, October 09, 2023
Geese (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 22, 2023Thursday, January 25, 2024
Falconry: Ducks (including Mergansers) and Coots (Central Flyway - Zone 1)Thursday, September 21, 2023Friday, January 05, 2024
Falconry: Ducks (including Mergansers) and Coots (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Thursday, September 21, 2023Monday, October 09, 2023
Falconry: Ducks (including Mergansers) and Coots (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 22, 2023Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Falconry: Geese (Central Flyway - Zone 1)Sunday, October 01, 2023Saturday, January 13, 2024
Falconry: Geese (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 01, 2023Monday, October 09, 2023
Falconry: Geese (Central Flyway - Zone 2)Sunday, October 22, 2023Thursday, January 25, 2024

Sandhill Cranes Season

Montana Sandhill Cranes SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Special Drawing LicenseFriday, September 01, 2023Monday, October 30, 2023
OTC LicenseSunday, October 01, 2023Monday, November 27, 2023

Upland Birds Season

Montana Upland Birds SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End DateNote
Mountain GrouseFriday, September 01, 2023Monday, January 01, 2024
PartridgeFriday, September 01, 2023Monday, January 01, 2024(except for portion of Carbon County, where it is Sept 1 - Jan 10)
Ring-necked PheasantSaturday, October 07, 2023Monday, January 01, 2024
Youth HuntSaturday, September 23, 2023Monday, January 01, 2024
Sage GrouseFriday, September 01, 2023Monday, September 30, 2024
Sharp-tailed GrouseFriday, September 01, 2023Monday, January 01, 2024
FalconryFriday, September 01, 2023Sunday, March 31, 2024

Montana Furbearer (Trapping) Season.

Furbearer Trapping SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Trapping Districts 1, 2 & 3Nov. 1 (Beaver)Apr. 15, 2023 (Beaver)
Trapping Districts 1, 2 & 3Dec. 1 (Bobcat)Feb. 15, 2023 (Bobcat)*
Trapping Districts 4, 5, 6 & 7Sept. 1 (Beaver)May 31, 2023 (Beaver)
Trapping Districts 4, 5, 6 & 7Dec. 1 (Bobcat)Mar. 1, 2023 (Bobcat)*
Portion of Trapping District 6Nov. 1 (Swift Fox)Jan. 15, 2023 (Swift Fox)*
Fisher, MartenDec. 1 (Where open)Feb. 15, 2023 (Where open)*
Mink, Muskrat, OtterNov. 1Apr. 15, 2023*

Turkeys Season

Montana Turkey SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
SpringSaturday, April 15, 2023Wednesday, May 31, 2023
FallFriday, September 01, 2023Monday, January 01, 2024

Swan Season

Montana Swan SeasonHunting Start DateHunting End Date
Pacific Flywayto be adopted at the April Commission Meetingto be adopted at the April Commission Meeting
Central Flywayto be adopted at the April Commission meetingto be adopted at the April Commission meeting

Hunting Season for Game Birds and Waterfowl in Montana.

Montana Waterfowl SeasonStart DateEnd Date
Mountain GrouseSept. 1 Jan. 1
PartridgeSept. 1 Jan. 1
PheasantOct. 7Jan. 1
Sage GrouseSept. 1Sept. 30
Sharp-Tailed GrouseSept. 1 Jan. 1
Special Drawing License (Sandhill Crane)Sept. 1Oct. 30
OTC License (Sandhill Crane)Oct. 1 Monday, November 27, 2023

Dates for the season may vary by zone. Please visit the website for the appropriate State Authority.

Hunting Season for Montana Predators.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has the following regulations addressing the shooting of predators:

According to Montana law, predators include coyotes, weasels, (striped) skunks, and civet cats (spotted skunk). Federal or state laws or regulations do not apply to predator shooting. Both resident and nonresident hunters in Montana are free to shoot predators at any time without a license.

To kill predators on state school trust grounds, you need a conservation license or a license for recreational use of state school trust lands. To shoot predators on private property, permission must be acquired.

Hunting License Fees

Licenses TypesPriceNote
Base Hunting License Fee$10 This is an annual fee and will be assessed at the time the hunter purchases or applies for his/her first hunting license.
Base Hunting License Fee$15 Nonresident Cost
Bow and Arrow (Archery)$10 Resident Cost
Bow and Arrow (Archery)$10 Nonresident Cost
Disabled Conservation License$8
Blind Resident lifetime fishing license$10
General Combination Licenses
General Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk)$1,108 Quota of 17000
General Elk Combo$934 Quota of 17000
General Deer Combo$646
Landowner Sponsored Deer Combo Licenses$683.50 Quota of 2000
Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk)$591.50 Quota of 500
Elk Combo$505.50 Quota of 500
Deer Combo$360.50 Quota of 500
Nonresident Native License
Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk)$554 Quota of Unlimited
Elk Combo$467 Quota of Unlimited
Deer Combo$323 Quota of Unlimited
Nonresident Student Hunting License
Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk)$554
Elk Combo$467
Deer Combo$323
Resident Youth Combination$31
Nonresident Youth Combination$554 Quota of Unlimited
$467 Quota of Unlimited
$323 Quota of Unlimited

Hunting laws for the Montana.

Regulations for Deer, Elk, and Antelope Hunting

Here are a few FAQs related to the Montana Hunting Season:

Which kind of hunting are permitted in Montana?

Big game creatures including antelope, bison, black bears, elk, and mountain lions may all be hunted in Montana.

How can I purchase hunting licenses and permits for Montana hunting season?

The Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department of Montana offers online hunting license and permit sales to both residents and non-residents. They may also be purchased from a variety of businesses spread out over the state.

Does Montana provide any opportunities for young hunters?

Yes, Montana has a program called apprentice hunting that enables kids 10 and older to buy hunting permits without first completing a hunter education course. They must go with an adult hunter who is at least 21 years old. Additionally, youth weekends for deer, duck, and pheasant hunting are available in Montana.

Are there any special hunting opportunities for mature bucks during the hunting season?

The greatest times to hunt mature bucks during the rut are the final few weeks of the hunting season. Various hunting guides may be used to get information about hunting areas and tactics.

Dates & Regulations source: Montana FWP

John Lewis

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