State Overview
Known For
Montana is known for its healthy populations of big game animals, tens of millions of acres of public lands, and ample private properties available to hunters through programs like Block Management (BMA). In Montana, hunters can pursue elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, black bear, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and moose.
Terrain
Montana has all kinds of terrain, including high alpine mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, prairies, badlands, and caverns. Its land area covers more than 147,000 square miles, making Montana the fourth largest state in the nation, just behind the size of California.
Montana Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Antelope – Archery (900 Series)
|
Aug 15, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
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Antelope – Archery
|
Sep 20, 2023 | Oct 6, 2023 |
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Antelope – General
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
|
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Bear – Spring
The end date may vary by unit (May 31 – June 15). Check unit-specific regulations for closing dates.
|
Apr 15, 2023 | Jun 15, 2023 |
|
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Bear – Fall – Archery
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 14, 2023 |
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Bear – Fall
|
Sep 15, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
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Bison
These dates represent the “general” season
dates. Check the individual hunting district
regulations for the most accurate season
dates and regulations.
|
Nov 15, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 |
|
|
Sandhill Crane
Special permits.
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 30, 2023 |
|
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Sandhill Crane
Over-the-counter. 3 daily and 9 in possession. Persons wishing to hunt Sandhill Cranes in the Central Flyway outside of the special license drawing areas must obtain a free permit available from all statewide Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices and license providers.
|
Sep 30, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
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Deer – Backcountry Archery
Hunting Districts (150, 280) *HD 316 does not have an Archery Only Season |
Sep 3, 2023 | Sep 14, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Backcountry General
Hunting Districts (150, 280, 316) |
Sep 15, 2023 | Nov 27, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Youth Two-Day Hunt
|
Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
|
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Deer – General
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Muzzleloader
Check regulations for more details |
Dec 9, 2023 | Dec 17, 2023 |
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Mourning Dove – Central and Pacific Flyway
15 daily and 45 in possession
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 30, 2023 |
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Ducks – Pacific Flyway
Daily bag limit: 7 ducks; shall not include more than 2 hen mallards, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 scaup. Please note Pacific Flyway exceptions. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Dec 24, 2023 |
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Ducks – Central Flyway – Zone 1
Bag limit: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks or mergansers. The daily bag limit may contain no more than 5 mallards of which no more than 2 may be hens, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 hooded mergansers, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, and 1 scaup. During the first 9 days of the regular duck season in both Zones (Sept. 30 – Oct. 8), the daily bag may include 2 additional blue-winged teal. The possession limit may not exceed three times the daily bag limit of any species and sex. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Jan 4, 2024 |
|
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Ducks – Central Flyway – Zone 2
Bag limit: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks or mergansers. The daily bag limit may contain no more than 5 mallards of which no more than 2 may be hens, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 hooded mergansers, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, and 1 scaup. During the first 9 days of the regular duck season in both Zones (Sept. 30 – Oct. 8), the daily bag may include 2 additional blue-winged teal. The possession limit may not exceed three times the daily bag limit of any species and sex. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 8, 2023 |
|
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Ducks – Central Flyway – Zone 2
Bag limit: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks or mergansers. The daily bag limit may contain no more than 5 mallards of which no more than 2 may be hens, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 hooded mergansers, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, and 1 scaup. During the first 9 days of the regular duck season in both Zones (Sept. 30 – Oct. 8), the daily bag may include 2 additional blue-winged teal. The possession limit may not exceed three times the daily bag limit of any species and sex. |
Oct 21, 2023 | Jan 16, 2024 |
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Ducks – Pacific Flyway
Daily bag limit: 7 ducks; shall not include more than 2 hen mallards, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks Standard bag limit excluding scaup. Please note Pacific Flyway exceptions. |
Dec 25, 2023 | Jan 12, 2024 |
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Elk – Shoulder Seasons
Dates vary, please check regulations.
|
Aug 15, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 |
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Elk – Archery
These dates represent the “general” season
dates. Check the individual hunting district
regulations for the most accurate season
dates and regulations.
Learn More
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
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Elk – Backcountry Archery
Hunting Districts (150, 280) *HD 316 does not have an Archery Only Season |
Sep 3, 2023 | Sep 14, 2023 |
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Elk – Backcountry General
Hunting Districts (150, 280, 316) |
Sep 15, 2023 | Nov 27, 2023 |
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Elk – General
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Elk – Muzzleloader
Check regulations for more details |
Dec 9, 2023 | Dec 17, 2023 |
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Mountain Goat
Some districts vary; check regulations for more information.
|
Sep 15, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Pacific Flyway (Youth)
Only licensed youth ages 15 and under; Standard bag limits apply |
Sep 23, 2023 | Sep 24, 2023 |
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Goose – Central Flyway (Youth)
Only licensed youth ages 15 and under; Standard bag limits apply |
Sep 23, 2023 | Sep 24, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Pacific Flyway
Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. Please note Pacific Flyway exceptions. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Jan 12, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Central Flyway – Zone 1
Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Jan 12, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Central Flyway – Zone 2
Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. |
Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 8, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Central Flyway – Zone 2
Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. |
Oct 21, 2023 | Jan 24, 2024 |
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Mountain Grouse
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Sage Grouse
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
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Sharp-Tailed Grouse
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Moose
These dates represent the “general” season
dates. Check the individual hunting district
regulations for the most accurate season
dates and regulations.
|
Sep 15, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
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Mountain Lion – Archery without dogs
|
Sep 3, 2023 | Oct 16, 2023 |
|
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Mountain Lion – Fall without dogs
|
Oct 22, 2023 | Nov 27, 2023 |
|
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Mountain Lion – Winter (with hounds)
Hunters need to check harvest closure information frequently, for
updated information.
|
Dec 1, 2023 | Apr 14, 2024 |
|
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Pheasant (Youth)
Legally licensed youth ages 15 and under when accompanied by a
nonhunting adult at least 18 years of age. Mentors for Apprentice
Hunters must be at least 21 years of age.
|
Sep 23, 2023 | Sep 24, 2023 |
|
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Pheasant – General
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
|
|
Bighorn Sheep – Archery
These dates represent the “general” season
dates. Check the individual hunting district
regulations for the most accurate season
dates and regulations.
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 14, 2023 |
|
|
Bighorn Sheep – General
These dates represent the “general” season
dates. Check the individual hunting district
regulations for the most accurate season
dates and regulations.
|
Sep 15, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring
Male Wild Turkey.
Shotgun/Archery only.
|
Apr 15, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
|
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Turkey – Spring
Male Wild Turkey. Shotgun/Archery only. General Turkey License: Over-the-Counter valid in General Hunting Areas (see map). Region 1 Turkey License: Valid in Lincoln, Flathead, Sanders, and Lake counties and those portions of Sanders and Missoula counties within Region 1. Not valid on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Region 2 Turkey License: Valid in Missoula and Ravalli counties Region 5 Turkey License: Valid in Wheatland, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Yellowstone, and Bighorn counties. Region 7 Turkey License: Valid in that portion of Garfield County south and west of Fort Peck Reservoir, west of Big Dry Creek and south of HWY 200, Rosebud County, Treasure County, Prairie County, Custer County, Powder River County, that portion of Richland County south of HWY 200, that portion of Dawson County south of HWY 200, that portion of McCone County south of HWY 200, Wibaux County, Fallon County, and Carter County. |
Apr 15, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
|
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Turkey – Fall
General Turkey License: Over-the-Counter valid in General Hunting Areas (see map).
Region 1 Turkey License: Valid in Lincoln, Flathead, Sanders, and Lake counties and those portions of Sanders and Missoula counties within Region 1. Not valid on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Region 2 Turkey License: Valid in Missoula and Ravalli counties
Region 7 Turkey License: Valid in that portion of Garfield County south and west of Fort Peck Reservoir, west of Big Dry Creek and south of HWY 200, Rosebud County, Treasure County, Prairie County, Custer County, Powder River County, that portion of Richland County south of HWY 200, that portion of Dawson County south of HWY 200, that portion of McCone County south of HWY 200, Wibaux County, Fallon County, and Carter County.
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Partridge
(except for portion of Carbon County, where it is Sept. 1 – Jan. 10) |
Sep 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
|
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Wolf – Archery
|
Sep 3, 2023 | Sep 14, 2023 |
|
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Wolf – General Rifle
|
Sep 15, 2023 | Mar 14, 2024 |
|
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Wolf – Trapping
Season open date may vary by HD. Please see the regulations for further details |
Nov 28, 2023 | Mar 15, 2024 |
The most accurate draw odds, harvest data, and application trends for hunters.
Toprut is designed to help hunters research, plan, and apply for hunts and tags every year.
- View draw odds for 11 western states.
- Explore comprehensive information on elk, deer, antelope, moose, sheep, mountain goat, and bison.
- Research using advanced filtering based on residency, species, weapon, and preference points.
- View success rates, harvest data, and applicant numbers to monitor trends.
Montana Draw Specifics
MONTANA – ALL SPECIES
Point System
- For elk and deer, Montana has 2 primary license types that each use a different point system
- There are General Deer, General Elk, and General Deer/Elk combo licenses, commonly referred to as General tags
- You need a General tag to hunt elk or deer in Montana
- For nonresidents, the General tag drawing uses a Preference Point system
- Residents can buy a General tag over the counter
- The nonresident General tag drawing has some complexity and can be confusing; read this for a full description of how it works
- There are also Permits. Permits are limited entry tags for a specific unit or units. There are elk and deer permits that you can apply for, as well as permits for all other big game species.
- The drawing for Permits in Montana uses an optional Bonus Point system
- Bonus Points are like raffle tickets – the more you have, the more “chances” you have in the draw
- You get one chance for your current application, and then your current Bonus Point total is squared and you get that many more chances in the drawing (so with 4 points, you’d get 17 chances, 1 + [4*4] )
- If you apply for a tag and are unsuccessful, you will be awarded a Bonus Point for that species if you paid the optional Bonus Point fee at the time of your application
- Or you can also choose to buy a Bonus Point Only each year during a separate application period to accumulate Bonus Points
- If you draw your 1st choice on a limited-entry permit application your Bonus Point total will be purged to 0 for that species
Tag Allocation
- For limited entry elk, deer and antelope permits, up to 10% of the total tags for each hunt code can be issued to nonresidents
- For moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats, up to 10% of the total tags in each respective region can be issued to nonresidents
- Residents and nonresidents are all in the same random drawing, where each applicants Bonus Point total is applied when determining your total number of “chances”
- Once the 10% nonresident quota max is hit, no further nonresident tags will be issued for that hunt code or region
Understanding the Draw Odds
- In Montana, we include 1 draw odds column in our List View
- Draw Odds: For elk and deer, we also include supplemental General Tag information at top: Nonres. General Tag Pref. Pt. Draw Odds
Other Tips
- Montana’s application process is notorious for confusion and misunderstanding. If you are new to it, call Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to make sure you understand the process. But don’t wait – do it early in the application period to avoid the last minute rush. The application period for Elk and Deer typically begins in mid February and ends April 1.
- Bighorn sheep, moose and mountain goat tags are generally very difficult to draw anywhere. Consider steering clear of the very hardest to draw hunts and focus on the lower ⅔ if you want to increase your chances of drawing in your lifetime. It may not seem like a big difference between .10 % odds and .05% odds, but consider that is actually 1 in 1000 against 1 in 2000. If you are late to the game in accumulating points, you’ll need all the luck you can get to overcome the odds.
Montana Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Montana hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks official website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every hunter in Montana should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Montana hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view GMU maps, along with BLM, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Montana.
Hunting Districts
Montana is divided into different hunting districts, organized by region. The hunting district boundaries correspond to specific regulations for each game animal and hunting season. A Montana hunter must be aware of the governing quotas and regulations in place for each district, as well as where the boundaries are. Click below to view Montana’s hunting district maps for all major species in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
MT Private Lands
Over 540,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Montana. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
MT Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 40,000,000 acres in Montana to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
MT Hunting Districts
Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Bear, Deer/Elk, Fisher, Wolf, Moose, Mountain Goat, Trapping, Turkey, Migratory Bird, Upland Bird, and Swan Hunting Districts.
Includes 16 Sublayers
- Antelope Hunt District
- Bighorn Sheep Hunt District
- Bison Hunt District
- Black Bear Hunt District
- Deer / Elk Hunt District
- Fisher Mgmt Unit
- Gray Wolf Hunt District
- Moose Hunt District
- Mtn Lion Mgmt Unit
- Mtn Goat Hunt District
- Trapping Districts
- Spring Turkey Hunt District
- Fall Turkey Hunt District
- Migratory Bird Hunt District
- Swan Hunt District
- Upland Game Bird Hunt District
MT Possible Access
onX has mapped 1,100,000 acres of possible access lands in Montana including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
MT Block Management
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Block Management. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.
MT Hunting Districts Portions
Montana Hunting District Portions are a sub unit of the hunting district that has its own given tag or special regulations compared to the corresponding hunting district.
Includes 10 Sublayers
- Bison Portions
- Elk Portions
- Mtn Goat Portions
- Moose Portions
- Mule Deer Portions
- Upland Bird Portions
- Whitetailed Deer Portions
- Furbearer Portions
- Migratory Bird Portions
- Black Bear Portions
MT Upland Game Bird Project
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Upland Bird Game Projects (Open Fields program). All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program.
MT Game Distribution
Montana Various Game Winter and General Distributions
Includes 11 Sublayers
- Whitetail Deer
- Mule Deer
- Elk
- Mountain Lion
- Ruffed Grouse
- Spruce Grouse
- Sharptail Grouse
- Hungarian Partridge
- Sage Grouse
- Dusky Grouse
- Turkey
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