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Montana Hunting Seasons 2025-2026 New Dates & Regulations
Montana is a paradise for hunters, with abundant herds, long seasons, and vast public and private lands. The state’s wildlife management officials carefully plan pursuing period to provide a variety of chances while maintaining wildlife balance. This complete guide provides hunters with all information, including schedule, laws, harvest quotas, license requirements, and useful resources.
The State provides a wonderful game 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. A permission may be acquired to legally recover a deer, moose, elk, or antelope that is inadvertently killed in a car collision.
Montana Hunting Seasons 2025-2026
🦌 Big Game
Deer & Elk
MT Deer hunting season
Season Type
Dates
Notes
Archery
Sept 6 – Oct 19, 2025
General combo tags available
General Rifle
Oct 25 – Nov 30, 2025
Main season
Youth Deer
Oct 16-17, 2025
Youth-only hunt
Backcountry Rifle
Sept 15 – Nov 30
HD 150, 280, 316 only
Muzzleloader
Dec 13-21, 2025
Late season opportunity
Black Bear
Season Type
Dates
Notes
Spring
Apr 15 – May 31, 2025
Some areas until Jun 15
Fall Archery
Sept 6-14, 2025
Fall General
Sept 15 – Nov 30, 2025
🏜️ Antelope
Season Type
Dates
Notes
900 Series
Aug 15 – Nov 9, 2025
Special permit areas
Archery
Sept 6 – Oct 10, 2025
General
Oct 11 – Nov 9, 2025
⛰️ Mountain Species
Mountain Goat & Bighorn Sheep
Season Type
Dates
Archery
Sept 6-14, 2025
General
Sept 15 – Nov 30, 2025
Moose
Season Type
Dates
Archery
Sept 6-14, 2025
General
Sept 15 – Nov 30, 2025
🦃 Turkey
Season Type
Dates
Notes
Spring
Apr 15 – May 31, 2025
Shotgun/archery only
Fall
Sept 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Either sex in some districts
🦫 Furbearers
Districts 1-3
Species
Dates
Beaver
Nov 1, 2025 – Apr 15, 2026
Bobcat
Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 15, 2026
Districts 4-7
Species
Dates
Beaver
Sept 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
Bobcat
Dec 1, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
Note: Some seasons may close early if quotas are met
🐦 Upland Birds
Species
Dates
Mountain Grouse
Sept 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Sept 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Sage Grouse
Sept 1-30, 2025
Pheasant
Oct 11, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Partridge
Sept 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
🦆 Waterfowl
Ducks & Coots
Zone
Dates
Central Zone 1
Sept 27, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026
Pacific Flyway
Sept 27, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026
Geese
Zone
Dates
Central Zone 1
Sept 27, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026
Pacific Flyway
Sept 27, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026
🐺 Predators
Wolf
Method
Dates
Archery
Sept 2-14, 2025
General
Sept 15, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026
Mountain Lion
Season Type
Dates
Archery (no dogs)
Sept 3 – Oct 16, 2025
Fall (no dogs)
Oct 25 – Nov 30, 2025
Winter (with dogs)
Dec 1, 2025 – Apr 14, 2026
🦬 Bison
Season
Dates
General
Nov 15, 2025 – Feb 15, 2026
All hunters should verify current regulations with Montana FWP before hunting
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has the following regulations addressing the shooting of predators:
According to 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 Types
Price
Note
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.
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 in Montana?
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 permits without first completing a hunter education course. They must go with an adult hunter who is at least 21 years old.
John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.
