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. |