Montana Hunting Guide

Beartooth Wildlife Management Area

Spanning over 35,000 acres along the west slope of the Big Belt Mountains near Helena and Townsend, the Beartooth WMA provides critical winter range for elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. The WMA encompasses rugged foothill terrain with ponderosa pine, grasslands, and riparian corridors. Permit-only rifle seasons apply for deer, elk, and antelope. Limited upland game bird opportunities also exist. Open May 15 through December 1.

Permit-only rifle seasons for deer, elk, and antelope. Open May 15 to Dec 1.

Bitterroot National Forest

The Bitterroot National Forest covers 1.6 million acres along the Montana-Idaho border in the Bitterroot Valley. It offers exceptional elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer hunting, along with black bear, mountain lion, and upland bird opportunities. The forest borders the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness to the west and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness to the northeast. Hunting Districts 201 and 285 cover much of the forest.

Adjacent to Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Check road conditions and closures before hunting.

Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area

Located in Missoula and Powell counties, the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA provides critical elk and deer winter range in western Montana. Spanning tens of thousands of acres of mixed conifer forest and meadow, this WMA is a popular destination for archery and rifle hunters pursuing elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Grizzly bears occupy the area; food storage orders must be followed. Special A-7 licenses and deer B tags are required via the statewide special drawing process for general season hunting.

A-7 elk license and deer B tag required for general season. Open May 15 to Dec 2. Grizzly bear country.

Blackleaf Wildlife Management Area

The Blackleaf WMA lies on the Rocky Mountain Front north of Choteau, providing critical winter range for bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer. The area is part of the broader Rocky Mountain Front wildlife corridor and offers some of Montana's best bighorn sheep viewing and hunting (by special permit). The rugged limestone reefs and foothills habitat is also home to mountain goat, grizzly bear, and black bear.

Bighorn sheep and mountain goat by special permit only. Grizzly bear country. Rocky Mountain Front.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex — comprising the Bob Marshall, Great Bear, and Scapegoat Wildernesses — encompasses over 1.5 million acres of roadless backcountry in the Lewis and Clark and Flathead National Forests. Known as 'The Bob,' it is one of North America's premier elk hunting destinations, with large herds of elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer, plus grizzly bear, black bear, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose. Access is by foot or horseback only; outfitted hunts are popular.

No motorized vehicles. Foot and horseback access only. Outfitters commonly operate here. Grizzly bear country.

Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area

Surrounding Canyon Ferry Reservoir east of Helena, this WMA is open year-round and offers diverse hunting opportunities including archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader seasons for white-tailed deer, plus waterfowl hunting for pheasants, ducks, and Canada geese. The reservoir's wetland margins and agricultural uplands create excellent habitat for both big game and birds. A popular destination for hunters seeking a mix of big-game and bird hunting near Helena.

Open year-round. Archery, shotgun, muzzleloader, and handgun for deer. Big game restricted area on portions.

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 1.1 million acres along 125 miles of the Missouri River in north-central Montana. It is one of the largest national wildlife refuges in the lower 48 states and offers outstanding hunting for antelope, bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, turkey, waterfowl, and upland game birds. The refuge's rugged Missouri Breaks terrain holds trophy-class mule deer and antelope.

Refuge regulations apply in addition to state hunting laws. Check current refuge hunting rules at fws.gov.

Custer Gallatin National Forest — Absaroka-Beartooth

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness within the Custer Gallatin National Forest covers nearly 1 million acres of high-alpine terrain in south-central Montana. The area offers excellent elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep hunting, along with black bear and mountain goat opportunities. The wilderness is renowned for trophy-class bulls and bucks. Hunting Districts 500 through 580 cover this region. Access is primarily by foot or horseback.

High-elevation wilderness. Foot and horseback access only. Grizzly bear country.

Dome Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Located near Gardiner at the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park, the Dome Mountain WMA provides critical winter range for elk and deer migrating out of the park. The WMA's proximity to Yellowstone means it hosts some of the largest elk in the state. Hunting here offers a unique opportunity to pursue trophy-class animals in a spectacular mountain setting along the Yellowstone River corridor.

Open May 15 to Nov 30. Adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Elk migrate from the park.

Ear Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Situated on the Rocky Mountain Front near Choteau, the Ear Mountain WMA is one of Montana's most scenic hunting destinations, offering views of the dramatic limestone reefs of the Front. The area supports elk, mule and white-tailed deer, and bighorn sheep, with grizzly and black bears also present. Bighorn sheep hunting requires a special permit. The WMA is part of the greater Rocky Mountain Front ecosystem, a globally significant wildlife corridor.

Bighorn sheep hunting by special permit only. Grizzly bear country. Open May 15 to Dec 1.

Fleecer Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Located in Silver Bow County near Butte, the Fleecer Mountain WMA provides habitat for elk, mule deer, and upland birds in the foothills of the Continental Divide. The WMA encompasses mixed conifer and grassland terrain at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 9,400 feet. It is managed primarily for elk and deer winter range, with moose also present in riparian areas.

Open May 15 to Dec 1. Adjacent to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area

Freezout Lake WMA is one of Montana's premier waterfowl hunting destinations, situated on the Rocky Mountain Front near Fairfield. The shallow alkaline lakes attract massive concentrations of snow geese, Canada geese, tundra swans, and ducks during spring and fall migrations. The WMA is famous for its spectacular waterfowl concentrations — up to 300,000 snow geese have been recorded here. Upland bird hunting for sharp-tailed grouse is also available.

World-class waterfowl migration stopover. Up to 300,000 snow geese during peak migration. No camping.

Gallatin Wildlife Management Area

Spread across several units south of Big Sky, the Gallatin WMA covers 8,641 acres at elevations exceeding 8,000 feet, providing secure winter habitat for elk and moose. The WMA borders the Lee Metcalf Wilderness and Gallatin National Forest, offering access to some of southwest Montana's most spectacular mountain hunting terrain. Elk and moose are the primary big-game species; black bear and mountain lion are also present.

Open May 15 to Nov 30. High elevation (8,121 ft). Adjacent to Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

Judith River Wildlife Management Area

Encompassing 9,397 acres in Judith Basin County, the Judith River WMA provides high-quality wintering habitat for elk and other wildlife in the Little Belt Mountains foothills. Archery and rifle seasons are open for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, and black bear. The WMA's mix of grassland, sagebrush, and riparian corridors along the Judith River makes it a productive hunting destination in north-central Montana.

Open May 15 to Dec 1. Elevation approximately 5,166 ft.

Kootenai National Forest

The Kootenai National Forest encompasses 2.2 million acres in the northwest corner of Montana, bordering Canada and Idaho. It offers outstanding hunting for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, and mountain lion in a landscape of dense conifer forests, river valleys, and rugged mountain terrain. The forest includes the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness (94,000 acres) and the Ten Lakes Scenic Area. Hunting Districts 100 through 170 cover the forest, with elk and white-tailed deer being the primary big-game species.

Grizzly bear country in portions of the forest. Check road closures before hunting. Cabinet Mountains Wilderness requires foot/horseback access.

Missouri Breaks BLM — Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument encompasses 375,000 acres of BLM-managed badlands and river breaks in north-central Montana. This remote landscape is renowned for trophy mule deer and antelope hunting, along with elk, bighorn sheep, and upland birds. The Missouri Breaks' rugged coulees and river bottoms hold some of the largest mule deer bucks in the state. Access is by boat, foot, or limited roads.

Remote area. Limited road access. Boat access via Missouri River. Check BLM regulations.

Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area

Montana's largest WMA at over 60,000 acres, Mount Haggin was established in 1976 to provide year-round habitat for elk, moose, and mule deer in the Pintler Mountains near Anaconda. The high-elevation terrain (averaging over 6,500 ft) supports robust populations of elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and upland birds. Black bear, wolf, and mountain lion are also present. Cow elk are managed conservatively with B tags. A premier destination for serious big-game hunters.

Montana's largest WMA. High-elevation terrain. Open May 15 to Dec 1.

Powder River County BLM — Southeast Montana Prairie

Powder River County in southeast Montana offers vast expanses of BLM-managed prairie and badlands, providing outstanding hunting for mule deer, antelope, and white-tailed deer. The county's remote coulees and creek bottoms hold trophy-class mule deer bucks. Upland bird hunting for sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse is also excellent. The area is largely underhunted due to its remote location, offering quality hunting with minimal pressure.

Remote area. Limited services. Check road conditions. Over-the-counter tags available.

Robb-Ledford Wildlife Management Area

The Robb-Ledford WMA in Madison County provides year-round habitat for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope in the Ruby Valley. The area serves as a seasonal migration corridor for deer, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. Hunting District 324 encompasses the WMA, offering archery and rifle opportunities for multiple species. The WMA's sagebrush and grassland terrain is particularly productive for antelope hunting.

Open May 15 to Dec 1. Important migration corridor for multiple species.

Smith River Wildlife Management Area

The Smith River WMA in Meagher County provides winter range for elk and deer along the scenic Smith River canyon. The WMA encompasses riparian habitat, sagebrush benches, and ponderosa pine forest. Hunting for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and antelope is available during archery and rifle seasons. The area is part of the greater Smith River watershed, known for its outstanding wildlife habitat.

Open May 15 to Dec 1. Part of the Smith River watershed.

Sun River Wildlife Management Area

Established in 1948, the Sun River WMA is one of Montana's premier elk hunting destinations, lying along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain Front. Up to 95 percent of the Sun River elk herd winters here, making it critical habitat for one of the state's largest migratory elk populations. The WMA features diverse intermountain foothill grassland with grass range, timber, browse meadows, riparian zones, and rocky terrain. Open May 15 through December 1; grizzly and black bear presence requires food storage compliance.

Travel Plan specifies access roads and parking. Grizzly bear country — carry bear spray.

Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area

The Wall Creek WMA encompasses 7,708 acres in Madison County near Ennis, providing winter range for elk, moose, and deer in the Madison Valley. Hunting seasons for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, antelope, and black bear are open to licensed hunters. The WMA's mix of sagebrush flats, riparian willows, and mountain foothills creates excellent habitat diversity. Designated open roads apply; motorized travel is restricted.

Designated open roads only. Open May 15 to Nov 30. Elevation 5,918 ft.

Base Licenses

Required base licenses that all hunters must purchase before buying species-specific licenses.

Combination & Sportsman Licenses

Bundled licenses that include multiple species and offer cost savings for hunters pursuing multiple species.

Deer Licenses

Licenses for mule deer and white-tailed deer hunting.

Elk Licenses

Licenses for Rocky Mountain elk hunting.

Antelope (Pronghorn) Licenses

Licenses for pronghorn antelope hunting. All antelope licenses are by special drawing.

Black Bear Licenses

Licenses for black bear hunting. Over-the-counter for both residents and nonresidents.

Special Drawing Licenses (Big Game)

Licenses for trophy species available only through the annual special drawing process. Application fees are non-refundable.

Mountain Lion Licenses

Licenses for mountain lion (cougar) hunting. Available over-the-counter in most districts; quota-based system.

Upland Game Bird Licenses

Licenses for pheasant, grouse, partridge, and other upland game birds.

Wild Turkey Licenses

Licenses for spring and fall wild turkey hunting. Over-the-counter.

Migratory Bird Licenses

Licenses for waterfowl and other migratory bird hunting. Federal duck stamp also required.

Wolf Licenses

Licenses for wolf hunting and trapping. Over-the-counter.

Youth Licenses

Discounted licenses for hunters under 12 years of age.

License Application Deadlines

Key application deadlines for special drawing licenses.