Hunting Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a deer stand to bag that trophy buck or sitting knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a band. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Montana.
These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit Montana Fish and Wildlife.
Antelope
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| 900 Series |
Aug. 15 |
Nov. 12 |
| Archery |
Sep. 2 |
Oct. 6 |
| General |
Oct. 7 |
Nov. 12 |
Beaver
| Districts |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Western & Southwestern Districts 1, 2, & 3 |
Nov. 1 |
Apr. 15 |
| Central & Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6, & 7 |
Sep. 1 |
May. 31 |
Bighorn Sheep
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Archery |
Sep. 2 |
Sep. 14 |
| General |
Sep. 15 |
Nov. 26 |
Bison
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Nov. 15 |
Feb. 15 |
Black Bear
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Spring |
Apr. 15 |
Varies: May 31 to June 15 |
| Archery |
Sep. 2 |
Sep. 14 |
| Fall |
Sep. 15 |
Nov. 26 |
Bobcat
Bobcat seasons my close earlier when the quota is reached
| Districts |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Western & Southwestern Districts 1, 2, & 3 |
Dec. 1 |
Feb. 15 |
| Central & Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6, & 7 |
Dec. 1 |
Mar. 1 |
Common Snipe
Central Flyway
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 1 |
Dec. 16 |
Pacific Flyway
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 1 |
Dec. 16 |
Deer & Elk
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Archery |
Sep. 2 |
Oct. 15 |
| Two-Day Youth Hunt (Deer Only) |
Oct. 19 |
Oct. 20 |
| General |
Oct. 21 |
Nov. 26 |
| Backcountry (HD’s 150, 151, 280, 316) |
| Archery |
Sep. 2 |
Sep. 14 |
| General |
Sep. 15 |
Nov. 26 |
| Elk Shoulder Seasons |
| Varying dates before and/or after archery/general season |
Duck & Coot
Central Flyway
| Hunt Type |
Zone |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Duck & Coot |
Zone 1 |
Sep. 30 |
Jan. 5 |
| Duck & Coot |
Zone 2 |
Sep. 30 |
Oct. 9 |
| Duck & Coot |
Zone 2 |
Oct. 22 |
Jan. 17 |
| Falconry |
Zone 1 |
Sep. 21 |
Jan. 5 |
| Falconry |
Zone 2 |
Sep. 21 |
Oct. 9 |
| Falconry |
Zone 2 |
Oct. 22 |
Jan. 17 |
| Youth Weekend |
|
Sep. 24 |
Sep. 25 |
Pacific Flyway
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Duck & Coot & Falconry |
Sep. 30 |
Jan. 8 |
| Duck & Coot & Falconry |
Jan. 14 |
Jan. 18 |
| Scaup |
Sep. 30 |
Dec. 25 |
| Youth Weekend |
Sep. 23 |
Sep. 24 |
Fisher
Fisher seasons my close earlier when the quota is reached
| Districts |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Districts 1 & 2 |
Dec. 1 |
Feb. 15 |
Goose
Central Flyway
| Hunt Type |
Zone |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Geese & Falconry |
Zone 1 |
Sep. 30 |
Jan. 8 |
| Geese & Falconry |
Zone 1 |
Jan. 14 |
Jan. 18 |
| Geese & Falconry |
Zone 2 |
Sep. 30 |
Oct. 9 |
| Geese & Falconry |
Zone 2 |
Oct. 22 |
Jan. 25 |
| Youth Weekend |
|
Sep. 24 |
Sep. 25 |
Pacific Flyway
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Geese & Falconry |
Sep. 30 |
Jan. 8 |
| Geese & Falconry |
Jan. 14 |
Jan. 18 |
| Youth Weekend |
Sep. 23 |
Sep. 24 |
Grouse
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Mountain Grouse |
Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
| Sage Grouse |
Sep. 1 |
Sep. 30 |
| Sharp-tailed Grouse |
Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
Marten
| Districts |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Districts 1-5 |
Dec. 1 |
Feb. 15 |
Moose
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 15 |
Nov. 26 |
Mourning Dove
Central Flyway
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 1 |
Oct. 30 |
Pacific Flyway
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 1 |
Oct. 30 |
Mountain Goat
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 15 |
Nov. 26 |
Mountain Lion
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Archery (without hounds) |
Sep. 2 |
Oct. 15 |
| Fall (without hounds) |
Oct. 21 |
Nov. 26 |
| Winter (with hounds) |
Dec. 1, 2017 |
Apr. 14, 2018 |
| Late Winter (with hounds) |
Feb. 1, 2018 |
Apr. 14, 2018 |
| Hound Training Seasons (residents only) |
Dec. 2, 2017 |
Apr. 14, 2018 |
Otter, Mink & Muskrat
Otter seasons may close earlier when the quota is reached.
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Nov. 1 |
Apr. 15 |
Partridge
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
Pheasant
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| General |
Oct. 8 |
Jan. 1 |
| Youth |
Sep. 23 |
Sep. 24 |
Sandhill Crane
| Permit Type |
Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Over-the-Counter |
For mid-continent Sandhill Crane populations |
Sep. 30 |
Nov. 27 |
| Special Permits |
For Rocky Mountain populations |
Sep. 10 |
Oct. 2 |
Swan
Central Flyway
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Tundra Swan (permits only) |
Sep. 30 |
Jan. 5 |
Pacific Flyway
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Swan (permits only) |
Oct. 8 |
Dec. 1 |
Swift Fox
Swift Fox seasons may close earlier when the quota is reached.
| District |
First Day |
Last Day |
| District 6 |
Nov. 1 |
Mar. 1 |
Turkey
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Spring |
Apr. 8 |
May. 21 |
| Fall |
Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
Upland Game Bird
Grouse
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Mountain Grouse |
Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
| Sage Grouse |
Sep. 1 |
Sep. 30 |
| Sharp-tailed Grouse |
Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
Partridge
| First Day |
Last Day |
| Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
Pheasant
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| General |
Oct. 8 |
Jan. 1 |
| Youth |
Sep. 23 |
Sep. 24 |
Turkey
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Spring |
Apr. 8 |
May 21 |
| Fall |
Sep. 1 |
Jan. 1 |
Wolf
| Hunt Type |
First Day |
Last Day |
| Archery |
Sep. 2 |
Sep. 14 |
| General Season Rifle |
Sep. 15 |
Mar. 15, 2018 |
| Trapping |
Dec. 15 |
Feb. 28, 2018 |
Wolverine
| Notice |
| The 2017/2018 Wolverine trapping season will remain closed for the foreseeable future. |
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