Hunting in Montana

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39 hunting trips from 12 outfitters starting from A$3,303

hunting trips

A$3,303

starting from

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animals

About hunting in Montana

The fourth-largest state in the United States, Montana is a hunter’s and outdoorsman’s paradise. Covering 147,000 square miles, Montana is split into distinct eastern and western regions by the Continental Divide. Most of the major mountain ranges (there are at least 100) are in the west. About 60 percent of the state, most of the eastern section, is prairie, but there are a number of isolated peaks and ranges that interrupt the prairie landscape. Huntable species in Montana include black bears, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain elk, Shiras moose, mountain goats, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, turkeys, wolves, and bison. There is also excellent hunting for upland birds and waterfowl in most of the state. Montana’s wildlife is well managed, with excellent trophies of nearly every big-game species being taken in the state every year. Some of the largest bighorn sheep in the world come from Montana, especially the Missouri Breaks region; however, drawing odds are extremely low. Hunting in Montana is conducted on both public and private land, and permission is required to hunt on private land. Outfitters and guides must by licensed by the Department of Labor and Industry. To hunt in Montana, you need a general big-game or species license as well as, in some cases, a permit entitling you to hunt in a specific area or type of animal. A Conservation License is also required. Consult with your outfitter and be certain that he or she is able to either provide the needed licenses and tags or instruct you on how to purchase them. Many of Montana’s hunting opportunities are only available through a draw system, which requires planning ahead. In some cases, however, licenses are available for purchase over the counter or outfitters have tags available for nonresident hunters. Big-game animals must be properly tagged before the carcass is removed from the kill site or before the hunter leaves the kill site. Montana requires that all hunters and guides must wear a minimum of 400 square inches of hunter orange visible above the waist. The rule does not apply to archery hunters hunting during the archery-only season, but it does apply to bowhunters hunting during the general big-game firearm seasons. It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with Montana’s hunting regulations before you begin your hunt, even if you are hunting with an outfitter. Rules surrounding season dates and hunt area boundaries can be complex, and because rules often differ from species to species and region to region, be sure to read up on specific regulations for you particular hunt. Find information at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (fwp.mt.gov) and specific hunting regulations here: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regulations/default.html.

Montana on map

Price distribution

A$3,303

A$7,145

A$10,987

A$14,829

A$18,671

Hunting methods

Rifle Hunting 23 hunts

Stalking 21 hunts

Bow Hunting 19 hunts

All methods (13)

Game classification

Big Game 35 hunts

Dangerous Game 5 hunts

Predators 5 hunts

All classifications (6)

Reviews

Greg

United States

10.0

of 10

Verified review

Nov 21, 2024

2024 Bison

10.0

of 10

Big Sky Bison

Outfitter

Michael and everyone involved was fantastic. We will be coming back for sure. Recommend this to anyone that has ever had an interest in bison.

John

United States

10.0

of 10

Verified review

Apr 18, 2023

Great hunt

10.0

of 10

Kibler Outfitting & Charter Fishing llp

Outfitter

Outfitter did what they said would

Garald

8.3

of 10

Verified review

Jan 3, 2025

I enjoy my hunt. I couldn’t stay for the full hunt as there was a death in my family so I only hunted for 3 days and did not harvest an elk. I did enjoy the time while I was there.

8.3

of 10

J&J Guide Service, Living the Dream Outdoors LLC.

Outfitter

I enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, the professional guys that I smelt the 3 days.

I would have liked to hunt for the full 5 days, which was not fault of the outfitter.

Kyle

United States

6.7

of 10

Verified review

Jan 3, 2025

J&J Guide Service review

6.7

of 10

J&J Guide Service, Living the Dream Outdoors LLC.

Outfitter

My guide, John Pezzin’s was outstanding. I have hunted elk for 35 yrs and he is one of the best I have had. Worked very hard at trying to put us on elk. Had four hunters at lodge with no shots fired all week. That’s hunting.

Lots of hunters no matter where we went. Many more than I expected and we only hunted weekdays, not weekends. Most elk sightings were on private land. The food was very poor. Expect a little more than a peanut and jelly sandwich for lunch. Hunters had to reheat food upon return for dinner. Cook made food at 4pm then left.

Tim

United States

9.7

of 10

Verified review

Jul 13, 2023