A permit is required to conduct commercial use on FWP fishing access sites, wildlife management areas, some rivers, and at state parks.
For information about commercial use at state parks, see Montana State Parks commercial use.
"Commercial Use" means any person or entity that utilizes land under the control, administration, and jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks for consideration. Commercial use includes any person, group or organization, that makes or attempts to make a profit, vend a service or product, receive money, amortize equipment, or obtain goods or services as compensation from participants in activities occurring on land that is under the control, administration, and jurisdiction of the Department. This includes nonprofit organizations and educational groups that receive money from participants in activities occurring on Department land. This includes a person whose business operates on Department land, regardless of that person's physical presence at the site, but does not include a person who rents, sells, or otherwise provides equipment or merchandise that is used on department land unless the renting, selling, delivering, or providing of equipment or merchandise takes place on Department land.
Examples of commercial use include but are not limited to:
If you are utilizing state-owned lands (fishing access sites, wildlife management areas, state trust lands) as part of your business, clients aged 12 and older, must have purchased a Conservation License.
Encourage your clients to purchase their conservation license prior to their trip or provided service.
These rules provide guidance to FWP for considering requests to conduct commercial use on FWP land and administering authorized use.
FWP charges a fee to conduct commercial use on FWP land. This fee serves as compensation to the public for allowing commercial use of public land and assists in mitigating impacts on sites and facilities, as well as covering administrative costs associated with such activities. The revenue generated from commercial use fees directly contributes to the management and enhancement of FWP sites and facilities.
Fees for conducting commercial use on FWP fishing access sites, wildlife management areas, and restricted rivers, are established by the following Commercial Use Fee Rule.
For commercial use fees at state parks, go to Montana State Parks commercial use
All licensed outfitters and water-based service providers must obtain an FAS Permit to conduct commercial use at FWP Fishing Access Sites. Exception: An outfitter or water-based commercial service provider who has a Commercial Use Permit to operate on a restricted river and does not use any FWP sites on other rivers, does not have to obtain an FAS permit.
You have the option of choosing an annual permit or a one-day permit. The permit is available online , at any FWP regional office , license providers , or you may download the paper application for the annual permit:
The following must obtain a Commercial Use Permit to conduct commercial use at a fishing access site(s) or wildlife management area(s):
Licensed outfitters and water-based service providers operating on restricted rivers.
Photographers, special events, guided tours, watercraft livery, rental, or demonstration
See the reference guides below for more information about permit requirements for different types of commercial use:
Guided Tours (PDF)
Water-based Outfitting (PDF)
Rules pertaining to fishing contests and the permitting process are available at Fishing Contest Permits.