Upland Game Bird Hunting Season Summary

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Most upland game bird seasons begin Sept. 1, with the exception of ring-necked pheasants.   Pheasant hunting for Montana residents and for nonresidents is Oct. 8-Jan. 1, 2006.

The sage grouse season is Sept. 1-Nov. 1, the mountain grouse season is Sept. 1-Dec. 15 and the sharp-tailed grouse and partridge hunting season is Sept. 1-Jan. 1, 2006.

Daily limits are two sage grouse, four sharp-tailed grouse, and three mountain grouse in aggregate (blue, ruffed, Franklin) and eight partridge in aggregate (Hungarian and chukar). The possession limit is two times the daily bag limit for sage grouse and four times the daily bag limit for sharp-tailed and mountain grouse and partridge.

For pheasant season, Oct. 8 – Jan. 1, 2006, the bag limit is three cock pheasants daily and legal possession is three times the daily bag limit.

Fall turkey season, Sept. 1 to Jan. 1, 2006 is open to all hunters with a valid Fall Turkey License in Hill, the FWP Region 6 portion of Chouteau county north of the Missouri and east of the Marias Rivers, Fergus, Wheatland, Sweet Grass, Stillwater and Carbon counties and all counties east of these, and the Flathead Valley area as described in the regulations.

The fall turkey special permit hunting areas include: Lincoln County, a portion of Sanders County as described in the regulations, a portion of Ravalli County in the Bitterroot Valley area, Park County and counties within FWP Region 3.

The annual bag limit for turkey is two wild turkey. The total combined limit of the spring and fall seasons cannot exceed two turkeys per hunter. See regulations for details on bag and possession limits.

Upland game bird hunters from 15 to 61 years old need a conservation license and an upland bird license. Residents ages 12 to 14, 62 and older, and holders of a resident with a disability conservation license need only a conservation license. All turkey hunters, regardless of age, also need a valid turkey license.

Hunters should check the regulations for exceptions and additional seasons. Upland game bird hunting regulations are available on the FWP web site under print regulations or the Upland Game Bird Hunting Guide, at FWP regional offices and from FWP license providers.

Hunters planning to hunt upland game birds on Indian Reservations should check Indian Reservation regulations for season dates, bag limits, licensing requirements, shooting hours, legal species and shot shell requirements, which may differ from state regulations.