Montana Hunting Seasons

Hunting Seasons

See our comprehensive list of hunting seasons for animals of all types and all areas of Montana. We’ve made it easier than ever to find the dates you can hunt, length of the season, what type of hunting is allowed and other important details. Plus, check out hunting resources and direct links to Montana state resources.

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Montana State Hunting Season 2022 - 2023

The information provided outlines Montana’s hunting seasons for various animals. The species listed include antelope, bear, sheep, bison, black bear, deer and elk, duck, goose, grouse, moose, goat, mountain lion, mourning dove, pheasant, sandhill crane, turkey and more. . This information provides hunters with the knowledge necessary to plan their hunting trips in Montana during the appropriate seasons. It also ensures that hunting is conducted in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Interactive Montana Hunting Season Discovery

Use the forms below to filter by game, type of hunting, time of year, bag / tag limits and much more. We’ve gone through the state of Montana Hunting Seasons’s hunting season data and simplified it so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Please note, that information realated Montana state hunting is subject to change so be sure to check the state resources linked below the table before heading out to hunt.

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Season Begins:

Season Ends:

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Season	Season Begins	Season Ends	Game	Hunting Type	Type Details	Zone	Bag / Tag	Other Info	Season Length
Antelope > Archery (900 Series)	August 15, 2022	November 13, 2022	Antelope	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	91
Antelope > Archery	September 3, 2022	October 7, 2022	Antelope	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	35
Antelope > General	October 8, 2022	November 13, 2022	Antelope	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	37
Bear > Spring	April 15, 2022	June 15, 2022	Bear	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	The end date may vary by unit (May 31 – June 15). Check unit-specific regulations for closing dates.	62
Bear > Fall > Archery	September 3, 2022	September 14, 2022	Bear	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	12
Bear > Fall	September 15, 2022	November 27, 2022	Bear	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	74
Bison	November 15, 2022	February 15, 2023	Bison	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting district regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.	93
Coyote > Hunting	January 1, 2022	December 31, 2022	Coyote	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	No limit.	No closed season.	365
Sandhill Crane	September 1, 2022	October 30, 2022	Sandhill Crane	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Special permits.	60
Sandhill Crane	October 1, 2022	November 27, 2022	Sandhill Crane	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	3 daily and 9 in possession.	Over-the-counter. 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.	58
Deer > Backcountry Archery	September 3, 2022	September 14, 2022	Deer	Archery	None	Hunting Districts (150, 151, 280)	N/A	*HD 316 does not have an Archery Only Season	12
Deer > Archery	September 3, 2022	October 16, 2022	Deer	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	44
Deer > Backcountry General	September 15, 2022	November 27, 2022	Deer	General	None	Hunting Districts (150, 151, 280, 316)	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	74
Deer > Youth Two-Day Hunt	October 20, 2022	October 21, 2022	Deer	General	Youth	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	2
Deer > General	October 22, 2022	November 27, 2022	Deer	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	37
Mourning Dove > Central and Pacific Flyway	September 1, 2022	October 30, 2022	Mourning Dove	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	15 daily and 45 in possession	Check state DNR for more details.	60
Ducks > Pacific Flyway	October 1, 2022	December 25, 2022	Ducks	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Standard bag limit.	Please note Pacific Flyway exceptions.	86
Ducks > Central Flyway	October 1, 2022	October 9, 2022	Ducks	General	None	Zone 2.	During the first 9 days of the regular duck season in both Zones (Oct 1 – Oct 9), the daily bag may include 2 additional blue-winged teal. The possession limit may not exceed three times the daily bag limit of any species and sex.	Check state DNR for more details.	9
Ducks > Central Flyway	October 1, 2022	January 5, 2023	Ducks	General	None	Zone 1.	During the first 9 days of the regular duck season in both Zones (Oct 1 – Oct 9), the daily bag may include 2 additional blue-winged teal. The possession limit may not exceed three times the daily bag limit of any species and sex.	Check state DNR for more details.	97
Ducks > Central Flyway	October 22, 2022	January 17, 2023	Ducks	General	None	Zone 2	During the first 9 days of the regular duck season in both Zones (Oct 1 – Oct 9), the daily bag may include 2 additional blue-winged teal. The possession limit may not exceed three times the daily bag limit of any species and sex.	Check state DNR for more details.	88
Ducks > Pacific Flyway	December 26, 2022	January 13, 2023	Ducks	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Standard bag limit excluding scaup.	Please note Pacific Flyway exceptions.	19
Elk > Shoulder Seasons	August 15, 2022	February 15, 2023	Elk	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Dates vary, please check regulations.	185
Elk > Archery	September 3, 2022	October 16, 2022	Elk	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting district regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.	44
Elk > Backcountry Archery	September 3, 2022	September 14, 2022	Elk	Archery	None	Hunting Districts (150, 151, 280)	N/A	*HD 316 does not have an Archery Only Season	12
Elk > Backcountry General	September 15, 2022	November 27, 2022	Elk	General	None	Hunting Districts (150, 151, 280, 316)	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	74
Elk > General	October 22, 2022	November 27, 2022	Elk	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	37
Mountain Goat	September 15, 2022	November 27, 2022	Mountain Goat	General	None	Some districts vary;	N/A	check regulations for more information.	74
Goose > Central Flyway (Youth)	September 24, 2022	September 25, 2022	Goose	General	Youth	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Only licensed youth ages 15 and under.	2
Goose > Pacific Flyway (Youth)	September 24, 2022	September 25, 2022	Goose	General	Youth	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Only licensed youth ages 15 and under	2
Goose > Central Flyway	October 1, 2022	October 9, 2022	Goose	General	None	Zone 2.	Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	9
Goose > Central Flyway	October 1, 2022	January 13, 2023	Goose	General	None	Zone 1.	Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	105
Goose > Pacific Flyway	October 1, 2022	January 13, 2023	Goose	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	105
Goose > Central Flyway	October 22, 2022	January 25, 2023	Goose	General	None	Zone 2.	Daily limit: 20 white geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) and 5 dark geese (all other geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	96
Mountain Grouse	September 1, 2022	January 1, 2023	Mountain Grouse	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag Limit: 3 in aggregate daily. Possession limit is four times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	123
Sage Grouse	September 1, 2022	September 30, 2022	Sage Grouse	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag Limit: 2 daily. Possession limit is two times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	30
Moose	September 15, 2022	November 27, 2022	Moose	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting district regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.	74
Mountain Lion > Archery without dogs	September 3, 2022	October 16, 2022	Mountain Lion	Archery	Archery without dogs	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	44
Mountain Lion > Fall without dogs	October 22, 2022	November 27, 2022	Mountain Lion	General	without dogs	Resident and nonresident hunters with a General Mountain Lion License, a Limited Special Mountain Lion License OR an Unlimited Special Lion License may harvest any legal lion in any open lion management unit statewide during the fall season without dogs.	When the harvest reaches a number nearest to 20 percent of the quota. In all areas, the combined archery only and fall season without dogs, male and female mountain lion harvest from all license holders	• Use of dogs is prohibited during the fall season. • The fall mountain lion season will close: -On November 27, 2022, OR –	37
Mountain Lion > Winter (with hounds)	December 1, 2022	April 14, 2023	Mountain Lion	General	with hounds	Not specified. Check state resources.	When a male quota, female quota/subquota, or overall quota is reached in a LMU, the mountain lion season for that subquota or quota in that lion management unit will close upon 24-hours notice, but no later than April 14.	Check state DNR for more details.	135
Mountain Lion > Winter (with hounds)	December 1, 2022	April 14, 2023	Mountain Lion	General	with hounds	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Hunters need to check harvest closure information frequently, for updated information.	135
Pheasant (Youth)	September 24, 2022	September 25, 2022	Pheasant (Youth)	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Legally licensed youth ages 15 and under when accompanied by a nonhunting adult at least 18 years of age. Mentors for Apprentice Hunters must be at least 21 years of age.	2
Pheasant > General	October 8, 2022	January 1, 2023	Pheasant	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag Limit: 3 cock pheasants daily. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	86
Sheep > Archery	September 3, 2022	September 14, 2022	Sheep	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting district regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.	12
Sheep > General	September 15, 2022	November 27, 2022	Sheep	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting district regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.	74
Turkey > Spring	April 15, 2022	May 31, 2022	Turkey	Shotgun/Archery only.	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Male Wild Turkey	47
Turkey > Fall	September 1, 2022	January 1, 2023	Turkey	General	None	Not valid in Region 4.	N/A	Either-sex Wild Turkey.	123
Wolf > Archery	September 4, 2021	September 14, 2021	Wolf	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	11
Wolf > General Rifle	September 15, 2021	March 15, 2022	Wolf	General Rifle	None	any open WMU statewide	Resident and nonresident hunters and trappers may harvest any wolf in any open WMU statewide during the archery only, general and trapping seasons. For hunting, a separate license is required for each wolf. For trapping, only a Trapping License is required.	Check state DNR for more details.	182
Wolf > Trapping	November 29, 2021	March 15, 2022	Wolf	Trapping	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	A person can take up to 20 wolves with no more than 10 via hunting and no more than 10 via trapping (maximum harvest of 20 wolves per person). For hunting, a separate license is required for each wolf. For trapping, only a Trapping License is required.	Check state DNR for more details.	107
Season	Season Begins	Season Ends		Hunting Type		Zone