Montana Hunting Guide 2026
Complete Montana hunting guide for 2026: seasons, license costs, draw odds, GMU boundaries, bag limits, and regulations. Compare every game species at a glance.
Wildlife Agency
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
Draw Application Deadlines
| Species | Type | Opens | Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk (Special) | Primary Draw | Mar 1 | Apr 1 | Mid May |
| Deer (Special) | Primary Draw | Mar 1 | Apr 1 | Mid May |
| Moose | Primary Draw | Mar 1 | Apr 1 | Mid May |
| Mountain Goat | Primary Draw | Mar 1 | Apr 1 | Mid May |
| General Elk | OTC | Mar 1 | Ongoing | Immediate |
| Bighorn Sheep | Primary Draw | Mar 1 | Apr 1 | Mid May |
Montana Hunting Seasons
Elk
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 2 | Oct 15 |
| Rifle | Oct 21 | Nov 26 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
General elk tag over the counter for residents. Non-residents must draw in most districts. Montana has the second-largest elk herd in the US.
Mule Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 2 | Oct 15 |
| Rifle | Oct 21 | Nov 26 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
General mule deer buck tag for residents. Non-resident combo license required. B licenses for antlerless deer in some districts.
Whitetail Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 2 | Oct 15 |
| Rifle | Oct 21 | Nov 26 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 + additional B tags
Whitetail deer in river bottoms and western Montana valleys. General tag includes one deer and additional B licenses possible.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Apr 13 | May 19 |
| Archery | Sep 1 | Jan 1 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 (spring), 1 (fall)
Merriam's turkeys in river bottom habitat. Spring and fall seasons. Over-the-counter tags. Growing population.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Apr 15 | Jun 1 |
| Archery | Sep 2 | Oct 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Black bear spring and fall seasons. Baiting not allowed. Good populations in western Montana mountains.
Moose
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 21 | Nov 26 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Limited draw only. Shiras moose. Very competitive — once-in-a-lifetime permit for residents. Northwestern Montana.
Pronghorn
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 15 | Sep 20 |
| Rifle | Sep 25 | Oct 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Draw-only in most western states
Mountain Goat
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime
Once-in-a-lifetime draw. Extremely limited tags.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime (most states)
Extremely limited tags. Once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Mountain Lion
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall/Winter | Nov 1 | Mar 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Hound hunting legal in most western states. Quotas apply.
Planning Tools
- Montana Draw Odds by Unit — success rates for every limited-entry hunt
- Montana Hunt Unit Guides — terrain, tactics, access, and logistics by unit
- Tag-to-Trail Planner — interactive map: public land, harvest records, water, burns
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Application Timeline — never miss an application deadline
- Preference Point Tracker — track points across all your states
Montana Hunting Guides
destinations
Montana Elk Hunting: The Complete Guide
draw odds
Bob Marshall Wilderness Elk Hunting: The Deepest Elk Country in America
beginner
Your First Pronghorn Hunt: A Complete Beginner's Guide
methods
Hunting in Grizzly Country: What You Need to Know Before You Go
destinations
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Elk Hunting: Roadless Country on the Idaho-Montana Border
planning