MONTANA LAWS & REGULATIONS
What are the Laws and Regulations for Hunting in Montana?
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks provides for the stewardship of the fish, wildlife, parks, and recreational resources of Montana. When hunting seasons begin in Montana, all hunters must have a hunting license as well as other required permits unless they are exempt. No person born on or after Sept. 1, 1969, shall hunt unless that person has been issued a certificate of satisfactorily completion of a Hunter Education course. It is illegal to trespass private land along with destroying the natural habitats of all species. No hunter shall poison, sell, buy, or willfully waste any game, unless is specified to do so. It is prohibited that hunters hunt in powered-on vehicles as well as using aircraft as an aid to locate wild game.
*Visit Montana’s Hunting Regulations for More Information*
FEATURED ANIMALS
Elk
The hunting of Elk within Montana is subject to the intensive and comprehensive planning that goes into preserving a steady Elk population. Elk hunters, therefore, must abide by the stringent state regulations, such as acquiring the necessary hunting permits and only hunting within designated zones. As an example, the General Elk permit allots the hunter to harvest one Elk; though there are a combination of permits to suffice specific needs. There are also lotteries that hunters will participate in; the results of the lottery are what define the total harvest among those chosen hunters. Hunters must also partake in legal hunting practices, hunting with weaponry that has been okayed by the state and abandoning excessive tactics that may cause undue harm to the animal, environment, and, quite possibly, the hunter.
- Archery: Sep. 5, 2020 – Oct. 18, 2020
- General Season: Oct. 24 – Nov. 29, 202o
Backcountry
- Archery: Sep. 5 – Sep. 14, 2020
- General Season: Sep. 15 – Nov. 29, 2020
*For more specific information pertaining to the general Elk hunting season in Montana, visit the Montana State Elk Hunting Page.
Bobcat
Bobcat season in Montana adheres to a quota; once the quota has been reached, the end of the season is subject to change and conclude earlier than the specified dates. The state of Montana offers a number of hunting permits that must be acquired before taking part in any hunting practices; that being said, there are permits guided to sufficing those who participate in archery and the general season. The Annual Base Hunting fee, is an annual fee applicable to all hunting licenses and assessed at the time of purchase. Remember to take into consideration your personal situation as a means of finding the correct permit, suitable for your hunting expeditions. Moreover, Bobcats can only be hunted with permitted weaponry that maintains the integrity of the state in its entirety.
- Western & Southwestern Districts: Dec. 1 – Feb. 15, 2021
- Central & Eastern Districts: Dec. 1 – March 1, 2021
*For more specific information pertaining to the general Bobcat hunting season in Montana, visit the Montana State Bobcat Hunting Page.
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep are among the big hunting game most anticipated by hunters due to their highly recognizable curved horns and excellent stature. With the ability to climb rocks and maneuver at relatively high speeds, the Bighorn Sheep is a prized trophy to be obtained after acquiring the correct hunting permits allotted by the state; the Bighorn Sheep Limited/Unlimited permit would be required in this instance. Moreover, Bighorn Sheep are among those under the strict conservatorship of Montana, therefore, a lottery will determine the number of sheep to be hunted as well as those legally able to hunt them. With that in mind, hunters must only utilize authorized weaponry, abandoning those that could cause excessive detriments.
- Archery: Sep. 5 – Sep. 14, 2020
- General Season: Sep. 15 – Nov. 29, 2020
*For more specific information pertaining to the general Bighorn Sheep hunting season in Montana, visit the Montana State Bighorn Sheep Hunting Page.