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Big Game

Montana offers a wide array of big game and is a desired destination for many hunters. Licensing procedures differ for residents and non-residents. All hunters must purchase a Conservation License and a Base Hunting License as prerequisites before buying any big game tags which are a mixture of over-the-counter and draws.

Residents have preferences with obtaining big game tags and have access to some over-the-counter options, whereas non-residents are restricted to the combination license quota available by draw only.

Some big game hunts (sheep, moose, goat, bison) are essentially resident-only due to very low non-resident tag availability. Also, Montana sets aside a portion of non-resident tags for those who use a licensed outfitter.

Deer & Elk: Resident hunters need General Deer and General Elk licenses which are available over the counter each year and can obtain Deer and Elk permits via draw or OTC depending on the area. Non-residents must apply for Combination Licenses (Big Game Combo for Elk+Deer, or Deer Combo, or Elk Combo) via a lottery draw held in spring. These combination licenses also include upland birds and fishing permits. Most application deadlines are by April 1st.

Pronghorn (Antelope) licenses are issued by lottery for both residents and non-residents – you must apply by the deadline (usually early June) and tags are limited.

Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat tags are extremely limited and allocated by lottery to residents (with a very small quota for non-residents, up to 10% in each draw), these are considered to be once-in-a-lifetime hunts.

Montana’s Black bear and Mountain lion licenses can be purchased over the counter. Bear licenses must be bought by a set deadline and are quota-limited in-season (hunters must check closure status of zones). Mountain lion licenses are sold OTC to residents and non-residents (with a limit of one per person) and are also subject to regional harvest quotas – if a zone’s quota is reached, the season closes.

Small Game

Montana does not require a separate small game license; the Conservation License plus Base Hunting License allows residents and non-residents to hunt upland game birds and small game.

However, upland game bird hunters (pheasant, grouse, partridge, turkey in fall, etc.) need an Upland Game Bird License. For Turkey, a separate turkey tag must be purchased – these are sold OTC for general areas (some districts have a limited permit by draw).

Montana also has numerous district-specific licenses for certain small game hunts (e.g., special wild turkey permits, sandhill crane permits in specific areas are available by drawing only).

Migratory bird hunters must obtain a Montana Migratory Bird License and also have a Federal Duck Stamp and HIP registration

Small game species like Coyote, Prairie dogs, Rabbits, etc., do not require special permits (they can be hunted with the base license; in fact, Coyotes and Prairie dogs are unregulated in Montana). Trapping of furbearers requires a separate Trapping license for species like Bobcat or Beaver.

Documents Needed

• Conservation License
• Base Hunting License
• Big Game or Turkey Tags/Licenses – Specific to species
• Upland Game Bird License
• Migratory Bird License (State) + HIP + Federal Duck Stamp
• Hunter Education Certificate

Minimum Hunter Age

Montana’s minimum hunting age is 12 for unsupervised youth who have completed hunter education. However, Montana has an Apprentice Hunter program that allows youth ages 10 and 11 to hunt under close supervision without having completed hunter education.

Links to More Information

• fwp.mt.gov - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.