The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. Montana offers a six-week archery season; a five-week general big game season; a 101-day waterfowl season; spring and fall turkeyand bear seasons; a six-month wolf season, and a liberal upland game bird season. Applicants purchasing a conservation license can now opt out of donating 25 cents of that fee to Search and Rescue. The member is currently stationed in and assigned to active duty in Montana, has resided in Montana for at least 30 days, and presents official assignment orders and proof of completion of a hunter safety course approved by the department,or a certificate verifying the successful completion of a hunter safety course in any state or province. The daily bag limit may contain no more than 5 mallards of which no more With the exception of archery hunters who are hunting during an archery-only season, all big game hunters, companions who are hunting, or accompanying hunters as an outfitter or guide must wear a minimum of 400 square inches of hunter orange fluorescent material above the waist, and it must be visible at all times. Payment of the license fee is not required to sign up on the Surplus License List. You must be permanently and substantially disabled to qualify for this license. This would give the hunter two preference points, which has historically always drawn a tag. General Combination licenses are issued through a random computer drawing. All base bonus points accumulate over time until you draw a permit. Enter search criteria to find your information. Applicants who apply online will need a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or debit card to apply. Residents and non-residents are in the same drawing for sheep, moose, and mountain goat tags until the non-resident quota is met or all of the tags are issued. Purchase the hunting license(s) you wish to donate. If you were born in Montanabut now live out-of-state, had purchased hunting or fishing licenses as a resident, and have an immediate family member who is currently a resident, you may qualify for these Nonresident Native Hunting licenses at reduced prices. management unit statewide during the fall season without dogs. Outfitter clients are eligible to purchase second preference point for an additional $100 at the time of application. The application deadline for Montana big game, elk and deer combination licenses along with deer and elk permits is April 1, 2022 by 11:45 p.m. MDT. A hunter harvesting a mountain goat must present the complete head with horns attached to a Department official within 10 days of the date of kill. Residents only. No more than 25% of the total hunters authorized to participate in a game damage hunt or management hunt may be selected from a landowners list, and if any antlered animals are authorized for harvest during a hunt, no names may be selected from a landowners list. September 3, 2022 - September 14, 2022. MyFWPprovides applicants with the status of their application and whether their application is pending, successful, or unsuccessful. The second member will use that number to attach to each application. If a non-resident applies for a deer or elk permit area that has less than a quota of 10, the application will not be considered for the drawing. Everyones first choice is awarded before anyones second choice is considered. Different permits have different deadlines,listed below and on the individual species guide pages. Students ages 10-11 can take the course and hunt as an apprentice but will not be fully certified until the year they turn 12. Applications for most species deer, elk, antelope, deer B, elk B, antelope B, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey can be made beginning March 1. Read our expert guide and make the most of the season When you apply in the draw your accrued points are squared to increase the odds for the applicants with more accrued points. Learn more about youth hunting opportunities. Montana hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. Either-sex Wild Turkey. Otherwise, your preference points will be purged if you dont apply in the next draw. A certificate showing the completion of a Bowhunter Education course or a prior years archery license from any state is required to purchase the bow and arrow license. Please note Pacific Flyway exceptions. FWP shall use an average of the number of preference points accumulated by those applicants to determine the party's preference points. Hunters electing Elk B license opportunities through the Surplus License List may only purchase one. These options do not exist if you only apply for the deer combination license. Any accumulated preference points are lost if the applicant does not apply for a nonresident combination license in consecutive years, or if you are successful at obtaining a combination license. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Hunting and Trapping Regulations By Species > 2022 Hunting Seasons Season Dates > Montana Hunt Planner Launch Hunt Planner Harvest Reports View Annual Reports Hunter Access Find Public and Private Access > Hunter Education Find a class > Hunter Ethics It's Up to Us > Trapping Trapping in Montana > Species Guides Hunting licenses can generally be purchased at any retail outlet that deals in hunting and fishing . Plus earlier this year we launched updated Draw Odds for Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Call 406-444-2612 for more information. We encourage hunters to have a wolf tag in their pocket if they are hunting in the western half of Montana. The Deer and Elk licenses issued as part of a nonresident Combination license are valid for both an early archery-only season and the general rifle season. quota. Zone 2. The permit holder must have a companion to assist in aspects of the hunt. than 2 may be hens, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 hooded mergansers, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks and 1 scaup. A hunter who harvests a bighorn ram must personally present the complete head and cape intact within 48 hours of the harvest to any Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks office, game warden, and/or employee. For example, if you have 3 bonus points, you will have 9 points in the draw plus that years application, equalling 10 chances in the drawing. Non-residents are allowed, but not guaranteed, up to 10% of each regions quota for sheep, moose, and mountain goat. The Montana bonus and preference point systems are voluntary. Any bonus points accumulated will not be lost unless the individual draws the species they applied their bonus points to. Hunters can apply for all special limited licenses and permits beginning March 1. Become an onX Member for the best outdoor adventure apps with tools to get you there and back safely. -On November 27, 2022, OR Considering it takes FWP two weeks to release draw results you'd think they would use those two weeks for preparing refunds to be sent out once results are posted. The possession Obtaining a license from this list has no effect on your existing preference points. Depending on how many applicants purchase preference points, the draw odds for applicants with zero preference points may be higher or lower than the draw odds for applicants who have purchased preference points. 3 daily and 9 in possession. Nonresident Combination license holders may return their license for a refund for any reason according to the following schedule provided the nonresident certifies that the license was not used. A Montana resident who is blind can purchase a lifetime fishing license for $10. Hunters interested in pursuing mountain lions are encouraged to review the 2022 hunting regulations. Only purchase a preference point for the general license if you intend to apply in the next years draw. Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Rosss) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). As always, hunters should get . but no later than April 14. However, if you plan on hunting an unlimited unit, you must submit an application to FWP headquarters. Access your Montana hunting and fishing licenses and permits in one convenient, paperless location on your mobile device Important info: . Resident anglers below 12 years old are not required to possess a license before fishing in Montana. 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. Refer to theregulationsfor specific details. Toprut is designed to help hunters research, plan, and apply for hunts and tags every year. Bag limit: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks or mergansers. He has been fortunate enough to have earned hunting licenses and firearms permits as a foreign resident in Japan and had the opportunity to experience hunting Japan-Style. Not valid in Region 4. If unsuccessful, you will be awarded another point and will have 4 points going into next years drawing. The possession SuperTag chances are available for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, antelope, elk, deer, bison, and mountain lion. These combination licenses include a Base Hunting License, Conservation License, Aquatic Invasive Species, Fishing license, General Deer and/or Elk license, hunting of upland game bird, excluding turkey. To register as a landowner sponsor for the 2023 license year, download the application below. Check unit-specific regulations for closing dates. Montana has a Block Management program, which is a cooperative program between private landowners and Montana FWP. New last year, a youth must be 12 years old by January 16, 2024to be eligible to begin accumulating points. Antelope, antlerless Deer B licenses, and Elk B licenses are available through a secondary drawing and in some areas over-the-counter. There is no guarantee that hunts will occur in the same hunting district in subsequent years as game animals, weather, natural causes such as fire and drought, human pressure, etc., are all factors for population distribution. Montana has a good hunt planner that can be found at https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/planahunt. By state law, non-residents are limited to, but not guaranteed, 10% of the license and/or permit quota. PO Box 250 #19. This is an annual fee and will be assessed at the time the hunter purchases or applies for his/her first hunting license, including upland and migratory bird licenses. For nonresidents elk hunters who want to hunt in Montana in a hunting district with limited permits, they first need to draw a nonresident big game or elk combo license. The measures included expanded wolf harvest seasons, increased bag limits, night hunting on private land, baiting on private land, and the use of snares for trapping. Given the General Season Antlerless Deer B Licenses are allocated separately, it is possible for hunters to participate in a game damage hunt or management hunt for deer and also receive an antlerless deer B license for use during the general season. Drawings will be completed approximately two weeks after the deadlines except for antelope, which occurs in August. Hunter names are cycled through and never deleted from the current Hunt Roster unless they have been identified for a hunt for that species that year. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt. Be sure to check the hunt codes carefully when applying to avoid accidentally applying for a ewe tag. When a male quota, female quota/subquota, or overall quota is Bag Limit: 3 in aggregate daily. The deer and elk licenses issued as part of a Combination license are valid throughout the state under the general hunting regulations. The hunter could buy the normal preference point and the outfitter preference point. These removals may take place throughout the winter and early spring and are applied only in those areas near Yellowstone National Park with brucellosis prevalence. Montana may well be the epicenter for western outdoor businesses. The sponsor can be a parent, step-parent, grandparent, sibling, step-sibling, child, step-child, spouse, or in-law. 2022-2023 hunting season information now available.HELENA - The 2021-22 migratory bird regulations are now available online; hard copies will be available at license providers in a few weeks. There are a few things to keep in mind, however. If the non-resident quota of up to 10% is reached and tags remain, only residents will be drawn for the remaining tags. Montana landowners, both residents and non-residents, may qualify for preference in the special permit drawing for deer and elk. By law (MCA 87-2-520), FWP may issue a specific type of license called a supplemental game damage license, valid only for antlerless or doe/fawn elk, deer, or antelope, and valid only for a specific property, specific time period, and this specific type of hunt. Bag Limit: 3 cock pheasants daily. Two-thirds of the wolves are usually harvested by hunters each year with the rest being taken by trappers. Crossbows may not be used during archery season. Come Home to Hunt licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Before hunting, you need to determine the following: You'll need to have your hunter education certification information beforepurchasing or applying for a Montanahunting license if you were born after January1, 1985. To purchase chances online go to FWP'sOnline Licensing Service. They further broke that number down into each region as follows: region 1 with 6,055 . Remember, you must have your license with you while hunting. The Montana general tag can be a very exciting hunt for anyone with the tag; however, the freedom with this tag can be overwhelming at the same time. Certain restrictions apply, and anyone certified as an Apprentice must be accompanied by a certified Mentor. The regions are numbered 1 through 7 with the hunting districts in the region corresponding to that number. The other 25% of the general combination licenses will be issued to the applicants who were unsuccessful in the preference point draw and have 0 points. Guidelines for those authorized with a Permit to Modify Archery Equipment(PDF), 2023Disabled Veteran with Organization Application(PDF), 2023Resident Lifetime Fishing License for the Blind Application(PDF). Hunting Districts (150, 151, 280) *HD 316 does not have an . The 2022 license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy new hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. Please contact Licensing for more information 406-444-2950, Please contact FWP Licensing at 406-444-2950, Find general hunting license requirements below, or visit the hunting regulations page for species-specific regulations, Find regulations by hunting district with the online Hunt Planner, Find a License Provider near you for in-person purchases, Sign up for hunter and bowhunter education, Hunter/Bowhunter Education Certificate Form, 2023Resident with a Disability Conservation License Application, 2023Permit to Modify Archery Equipment Application, Guidelines for those authorized with a Permit to Modify Archery Equipment, 2023Disabled Veteran with Organization Application, 2023Resident Lifetime Fishing License for the Blind Application, 2023Permit to Hunt from a Vehicle Application, Guidelines for those authorized with a Permit to Hunt From a Vehicle, 2023Application to Donation of Hunting License to MilitaryVeterans, 2023Organizational Affidavit for Donated Licenses, 023Landowner Sponsor Required Additional Information, 2023Resident Landowner Sponser Record/Report Form, 2023Resident Landowner SponsorApplication, 2023Resident Licenses for Military and Their Dependents, 2023 Come Home to Hunt Required Additional Information, 2023Nonresident Native Required Additional Information, Buy & Apply > Residency Information Overview page, Nonresident Combination Any Reason Refund Application, Check out maps and unit descriptions with the. The Hunt Roster is one of the ways FWP selects public hunters to participate in hunts where animals are causing damage to stored agricultural crops or private property. FWP has contacted all of the affected hunters explaining the situation and will send a letter with a postage-paid return envelope so the licenses can be mailed back to Helena. To hunt during the archery season, hunters must purchase a $10 bow and arrow license after obtaining a hunting license. A student must be at least 10 years old to register for Montana's hunter education courses. The 30-day residence requirement is waived in time of war. Huntin' Fool offers a wide variety of services and resources within the hunting space, and the Huntin' Fool . A group number will be assigned to each species, with a separate number for general and limited-entry. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Game Damage and Management Hunts could take place anytime from August 15February 15. The organizations must use hunting as part of the rehabilitation process. 75% of the general combination licenses will be issued to the people with the most preference points. Welcome to the 2022-2023 Montana Hunting Regulations. Antelope results will be available early August with the exception of antelope archery 900-20 results, which will be available mid-June. These tags will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis shortly after the results have been posted. It is your responsibility as an applicant to review drawing statistics from prior years and make the best decision for your particular situation. Preference point expiration Traditionally, Montana would allow applicants to use the points-only purchase option for two years but applicants then had to apply on the third year, or else their accumulated points would be zeroed. These prices are in addition to the cost of conservation and base hunting licenses. A Bow and Arrow license, plus the proper hunting licenses, is required during an Archery-only season for any speciesor to archery hunt in an Archery-only area or hunting district. Landowner preference applies to your first choice when applying for a permit. Each year, eight lucky hunters win a SuperTag license. Mule deer populations are above average across much of the region but vary depending on the hunting district. Required additional information that must be submitted to complete your license. With the new online application process, FWP can complete the drawing much faster than in years past. One Super Tag will be drawn for each species and can be used in any hunting district, including Montanas most legendary trophy districts. Applicants wishing to apply for points only for any species may do so from July 1st through September 30th. The application process is completely online here or in any Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP) office. Legal requirements and restrictions for various methods are described in the regulations. Certain restrictions apply. Montana does not have mandatory harvest reporting requirements for deer and elk taken using paper licenses. The sponsoring adult family member must claim Montana as his or her legal residence and must have a valid Montana hunting license. The latest release includes notifications services. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Unlike a preference system, the bonus points system does not guarantee a license/permit to the applicants with the most bonus points, and first-time applicants still have a chance to draw a license/permit. If you're a non-resident looking to hunt deer in Montana, you'll need to purchase a Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk) license for $554, or a Deer Combo license for $323. Additionally, youth weekends for deer, duck, and pheasant hunting are available in Montana. Required additional information that mustbe submitted to complete your license. MyFWPallows you to check your relative position on the Alternates List after the list is randomized in mid-July. To purchase or apply for a Montanahunting license, any person born after January1, 1985, must provide proof of having successfully completed a hunter education course issued by Montana, any other state or any Canadian province. During the first 9 days Tap any public land parcel to learn more. Licenses, permits, and carcass tags are printed on 8 1/2" x 11" regular white paper. However, in unit 482, region 6, or the unlimited units, the sheep must be presented in the administrative district where the ram was taken. Required additional information that must be submitted to complete your license. The only thing to remember when buying an outfitter preference point is that you are required to hunt with the outfitter for your entire hunt. Over 540,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Montana. If you win a SuperTag, and also draw a license or permit through FWPs special permit license drawings, you will be required to surrender that license or permit before receiving the SuperTag. For 2022, you can sign up for the Alternate List from May 16 through June 30 by 11:45 p.m. MT on your MyFWP account by clicking the link below and then logging in. Bag Limit: 2 daily. If your name comes up, you will be contacted with instructions on how to complete the purchase of the license. The Montana wolf harvest for the 2021-2022 season was 272. If people have questions, the FWP licensing call center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through April 1;after April 1, the hours will return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no waiting period for bison, antelope, or ewe bighorn sheep. Surplus License List sign-up timeframes referenced below are based on when the original drawing date for each species is scheduled to occur and are subject to change from year to year. A management hunt is a proactive measure to prevent or reduce potential damage caused by large concentrations of game animals resulting from seasonal migrations, extreme weather conditions, restrictive public hunting access on adjacent or nearby properties, or other factors. For deer and elk, draw results will be available mid-April. Montana Montana Hunting Welcome to the 2022-2023 Montana Hunting Regulations Here you will find the most up-to-date information on deer, turkey, and waterfowl/migratory game birds. The maximum number of points someone can have is 23 going into the 2023 draw. March 1st marked the state of the new hunting and fishing license year here in Montana and like every year there are some changes to pay attention to before you head out. In order to legally hunt in Montana, you must obtain a hunting license or what is commonly referred to as a "tag" and a conservation license for a specific species and sex of an animal - before you hunt it. If you are not drawn for a limited-entry tag, you can either keep the general license or return it for an 80% refund. We cover Montana wolf hunting information in our October issue. Any leftover general combination licenses for deer and elk will go on sale within a week after the draw results have been posted.