Available Licenses & Permits
The following table is a brief summary of the majority of different licenses and permits that are available. Detailed information can be found by looking at the regulations for the specific species that you are interested in.
A license provides an opportunity to "harvest" the species for which the license is valid.
A permit does not allow a hunter to "harvest" the species for which the permit is valid. A permit must be used in conjunction with a license and the permit enhances a hunting opportunity.
Availability Key:
FWP—Any FWP office OTC—Over the Counter SD—Special Drawing
| Type of License/Permit (All are licenses unless noted.) |
License Specifics (See individual species regulations for additional information.) |
Deadline/ Availability |
Res Cost |
Nonres Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope | Licenses limited to specific districts. | June 1 SD |
Resident
* $19 |
Nonresident
* $205 |
| Antelope Multi- region Archery Only |
Either-sex archery only license. License limited to specific regions. May be applicant's first, second, or third choice. | June 1 SD |
Resident
$19 |
Nonresident
$205 |
| Big Game Elk/Deer Combination— General |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands, deer A, and elk license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. 11,500 licenses available. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
** $643 |
| Big Game Elk/Deer Combination— Outfitter Sponsored |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands, deer A, and elk license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. Outfitter certificates should be obtained from your outfitter sponsor. All big game hunting with this license must be done with a licensed outfitter. Issued to all valid applicants sponsored by a certified outfitter received by March 15. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
$1250 |
| Bighorn Sheep Limited/ Unlimited |
May 1 SD |
Resident
* $130 |
Nonresident
* $755 |
|
| Bison | Bison license licenseTableDeadline to apply is to be determind. Successful applicants are required to pay a license fee of $125 for residents or $750 for nonresidents. | TBD SD |
Resident
$5 |
Nonresident
$5 |
| Black Bear | Licenses purchased after the April 14 licenseTableDeadline are valid only in the fall season. No bear license may be purchased after August 31. Hunters must show proof of having passed a bear identification test before purchasing a license. | Spring— April 14 Fall— August 31 OTC |
Resident
$19 |
Nonresident
$350 |
| Bow and Arrow (Archery) | Required for Archery Only Season and/or areas. Specific rules apply to purchase a bow and arrow license. | OTC | Resident
$10 |
Nonresident
$10 |
| Conservation | Resident and nonresident prerequisite for all licenses. Includes the state lands license (for hunting, fishing and trapping). Also allows a resident or nonresident who is a Legion of Valor member, regardless of age, to fish. Residents 12-14 years of age and 62 or older need only a conservation license to fish and to hunt migratory birds and upland game birds, excluding turkey. |
OTC | Resident
$8 |
Nonresident
$10 |
| Conservation—Disabled Resident |
Residents certified as permanently and substantially disabled, as designated by FWP rules, must purchase this license annually which authorizes fishing, hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey & migratory birds, the purchase of deer A license for $6.50 and Elk for $8 and includes a State Lands license (for hunting, fishing and trapping). | FWP | Resident
$8 |
Nonresident
|
| Deer A | Montana residents 12-14 years of age or holders of a disabled resident conservation license, may purchase a deer A license for $6.50. Residents 62 years and older may purchase this license for $10. | OTC | Resident
$16 |
Nonresident
|
| Deer B—Drawing | Licenses limited to specific districts. | June 1 SD |
Resident
* $15 |
Nonresident
* $80 |
| Deer B—Over-the-counter | Licenses limited to specific districts. | August 9 OTC |
Resident
$10 |
Nonresident
$75 |
| Deer B Antlerless Whitetail, Single Region |
Allows hunting of antlerless white-tailed deer only, in one region only. Conservation license and Hunting Access Enhancement Fee are prerequisites. Hunter must designate region upon purchase. | August 9 OTC |
Resident
$10 |
Nonresident
$75 |
| Deer Combination— General |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands, and deer A license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. 2,300 licenses available. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
** $343 |
| Deer Combination— Landowner Sponsored |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands, and deer A license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. Landowner certificates should be obtained from your landowner sponsor. 2,000 licenses available. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
** $343 |
| Deer Combination— Outfitter Sponsored |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands and deer A license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. Outfitter certificates should be obtained from your outfitter sponsor. All big game hunting with this license must be done with a licensed outfitter. Issued to all valid applicants sponsored by a certified outfitter received by March 15. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
$995 |
| Deer Permits | Must be used with a general Deer A license. Deer A license is available to nonresidents only through the Deer Combination Licenses. | June 1 SD |
Resident
* $5 |
Nonresident
* $5 |
| Elk | Montana residents 12-14 years of age or holders of a disabled resident conservation license may purchase a license for $8. Residents 62 years and older may purchase this license for $12. | OTC | Resident
$20 |
Nonresident
|
| Elk A9/B12— Limited |
Allows for the taking of an antlerless elk in designated areas. | June 1 SD |
Resident
* $25 |
Nonresident
* $278 |
| Elk A9/B12— Unlimited |
Allows for the taking of an antlerless elk in designated areas. | August 9 OTC |
Resident
$20 |
Nonresident
$273 |
| Elk Combination— General |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands and elk license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. This license is included in the 11,500 quota of big game elk/deer combination license. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
** $593 |
| Elk Combination— Outfitter Sponsored |
Nonresidents applying for any other combination license may not apply. Includes a conservation, state lands and elk license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. Outfitter certificates should be obtained from your outfitter sponsor. All big game hunting with this license must be done with a licensed outfitter. Issued to all valid applicants sponsored by a certified outfitter received by March 15. [Learn more] | March 15 SD |
Resident
|
Nonresident
$995 |
| Elk Permits | Residents must hold a valid elk license to appy. Nonresidents must hold a big game or elk combination license to apply. State refund policy does not allow refunds under $5. If you are unsuccessful for only an elk permit, a refund will not be sent. | June 1 SD |
Resident
* $9 |
Nonresident
* $9 |
| Fur Dealer | Issued only through FWP Helena Headquarters, Law Enforcement Division. Fee for nonresidents is the same as the fee charged in the nonresident's state of residence for a Montana fur dealer seeking licensure in that state or $50 if the nonresident's state does not issue a nonresident fur dealer's license. | Expire April 30 FWP Helena HQ only |
Resident
$10 |
Nonresident
See description under License Specifics (left). |
| General Trapper | Available only to resident conservation license holders 12 years of age or older. | February 28 OTC |
Resident
$20 |
Nonresident
|
| Hound Training | Allows a Montana resident to train hounds during the hound training season without a mountain lion license. See mountain lion hunting regulations for specifics. | OTC | Resident
$5 |
Nonresident
|
| Hunting Access Enhancement Fee |
This is an annual fee and will be charged at the time the hunter purchases his/her first hunting license, including upland game and migratory bird. | OTC | Resident
$2 |
Nonresident
$10 |
| Landowner Trapper | Available to landowner or member of their immediate family. Trapping restricted to lands owned or leased by the applicant. | February 28 FWP |
Resident
$1 |
Nonresident
|
| Montana Migratory Bird |
Residents 12-15 years of age, 62 or older or holders of the Resident Disabled Conservation License need only a conservation license; residents 16-61 and nonresidents 16 and older need a conservation license, a Montana migratory bird license. Federal waterfowl stamp also required for individuals (both resident and nonresident) 16 and older. | OTC | Resident
$6.50 |
Nonresident
$50 |
| Moose | May 1 SD |
Resident
* $130 |
Nonresident
* $755 |
|
| Mountain Goat | comment | May 1 SD |
Resident
* $130 |
Nonresident
* $755 |
| Mountain Lion—General | Some districts require special licenses. | August 31 OTC |
Resident
$19 |
Nonresident
$320 |
| Mountain Lion—Special License Application Fee | Some districts require special licenses. Successful applicants are required to pay a license fee of $19 for residents or $320 for nonresidents | August 31 SD |
Resident
* $5 |
Nonresident
* $5 |
| Mountain Lion Trophy |
Must be purchased after mountain lion kill. | FWP | Resident
$50 |
Nonresident
$50 |
| Nonresident Trapper | Available only to nonresident conservation license holders; 12 years of age or older, whose state of residence has nonresident trapper licenses available to Montana trappers. Valid for predatory animals and nongame wildlife. Season Dates: October 16–April 15. | February 28 FWP |
Resident
|
Nonresident
$250 |
| Sandhill Crane | July 29 SD |
Resident
* $5 |
Nonresident
* $5 |
|
| Sportsman's (Including Bear) |
Includes a conservation, state lands, deer A, elk, and black bear license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland birds, excluding turkey. licenseTableDeadline for Spring black bear is April 14 and August 31 for Fall black bear. | Spring— April 14 Fall— August 31 OTC |
Resident
$85 |
Nonresident
|
| Sportsman's (Without Bear) |
Includes a conservation, state lands, deer A, and elk license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland birds, excluding turkey. Residents 62 years and older may purchase this license for $55. Montana military members discharged or released from active duty that participated in a contingency operation outside the state for 2 months since September 11, 2001 may purchase this license at FWP offices for $2. To take advantage of these licenses you must obtain the license in the year that you returned from military service or in the following year. |
OTC | Resident
$70 |
Nonresident
|
| State Lands Recreation |
Required for recreational use on state school trust lands.The State Lands Recreation License is included in the Montana Conservation License specifically for the purpose of hunting, fishing, and/or trapping (HFT). All other recreational use on state school trust lands requires the State Lands Recreation License. Youth 12-17 and 60+ pay half price ($5). Families, up to 5 members living in the same household, pay $20. | OTC | Resident
$10 |
Nonresident
$10 |
| Swan | September 2 SD |
Resident
* $5 |
Nonresident
* $5 |
|
| Turkey—with Upland Game Bird | Conservation and upland game bird licenses are prerequisites for residents. A conservation license is a prerequisite for nonresidents. | OTC | Resident
$6.50 |
Nonresident
$55 |
| Turkey—without Upland Game Bird | A conservation license is a prerequisite for nonresidents. | OTC | Resident
|
Nonresident
$115 |
| Spring Permit | See Spring Turkey regulations for details. | March 11 SD |
Resident
* $5.00 |
Nonresident
* $5.00 |
| Fall Permit | See Upland Game Birds regulations for details. | July 29 SD |
Resident
* $5.00 |
Nonresident
* $5.00 |
| Upland Game Bird |
Residents 12-14 years of age and 62 or older, or holders of a disabled resident conservation license need only a conservation license to hunt upland game birds. Nonresidents need only a conservation license as a prerequisite. |
OTC | Resident
$7.50 |
Nonresident
$110 |
| Upland Game Bird 3-Day Preserve |
Residents must posses a valid upland bird license. Nonresidents need only a conservation license as a prerequisite. Valid only on state-licensed private Shooting Preserves. | OTC | Resident
$0 |
Nonresident
$20 |
| Wolf | Available to conservation license holders 12 years of age or older. [Learn more] | OTC | Resident
$19 |
Nonresident
$350 |
| Youth Combination Sports |
Includes conservation, state lands, fishing, upland game bird, excluding turkey, deer A and elk licenses. Available only to Montana residents 12-17 years of age. | OTC | Resident
$25 |
Nonresident
|
| Youth Trapper | Available only to resident conservation license holders 6 through 11 years of age. Valid for mink and muskrat. | FWP | Resident
$0 |
Nonresident
|
| Youth Upland Game Bird |
Available only to Montana residents 15-17 years of age. | OTC | Resident
$3.00 |
Nonresident
|
* Cost includes $5 nonrefundable drawing fee.
** Cost includes $5 nonrefundable drawing fee and $10 Hunting Access Enhancement fee.
