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FWP’s biennial hunting season-setting process begins in June

May 28, 2025 11:14 AM

Hunting regulations often are the subject of debate, curiosity or even consternation with hunters around Montana. Hunters who want to see changes in regulations or have ideas to improve the regulations will have a great opportunity to make a difference in the coming weeks.  

On odd years, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks does a complete run through of hunting regulations to consider both large and small changes. This process is called “season setting” and starts off with scoping meetings around the state to gather ideas from hunters and to answer questions about suggested changes that FWP staff are considering. These scoping meetings will be held in June and July.  

FWP staff will look to hunters to provide broad input on regulation changes they’d like to see. Staff will also look for feedback on a few specific proposals. 

These scoping meetings are not the same as public comment meetings. FWP staff will listen at the scoping meetings and capture the general themes. Staff will use this information to develop draft regulations, which will be released for public comment as proposals for the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October. FWP will hold additional public meetings in early November to answer questions about the draft regulation proposals. Comment on the draft regulation proposals will be collected through the FWP website during the fall public commenting period. The final decision on regulations will come at the December Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. 

We know hunting regulation changes are important for hunters, and we need your input early in the process to make sure any changes are made with careful consideration of what hunters think and what they want.  


Scoping meeting schedule: 

Biennial Season Setting Meetings to Discuss Concepts

All meetings from 6 to 8 p.m.


Region 1

  • June 23: Eureka – Glacier Bank conference room

  • June 24: Kalispell – Regional office

  • June 25: Thompson Falls – Thompson Falls High School Library

  • June 26: Libby – Ponderosa Room City Hall Building


Region 2

  • June 9: Philipsburg – Granite County Museum

  • June 10: Drummond – Drummond Community Center

  • June 11: Hamilton – Bitterroot River Inn

  • June 12: Missoula – Regional office

  • June 16: Deer Lodge – Powell County Community Center

  • June 17: Superior – Superior High School multi-purpose room

  • June 18: Anaconda – Metcalf Center

  • June 24: Ovando – Ovando School gym

  • June 25: Lincoln – Lincoln Community Hall


Region 3

  • June 10: Dillon – SAR building

  • June 11: Bozeman – Regional office

  • June 12: Helena – Montana Wild

  • June 16: Livingston – Community Room of the city/county complex (414 E. Callender St.)

  • June 17: Butte – FWP Butte Area Resource Office


Region 4

  • June 10: Lewistown – Yogo Inn

  • June 23: Conrad – Pondera Shooting Sports Complex

  • June 23: Utica – Utica Community Center

  • June 25: Great Falls – Regional office

  • July 1: Stanford – Stanford City Hall

  • July 2: Fort Benton – Fort Benton Fire Department

  • July 2: Choteau – Choteau Public Library


Region 5


Region 6

  • June 18: Havre – Hensler Auditorium on the MSU Northern Campus

  • June 17: Malta – High School Cafeteria

  • June 24: Plentywood – Library Jubilee Room

  • June 26: Glasgow – Regional office


Region 7

  • July 8: Miles City – Regional office

  • July 9: Glendive – Dawson Community College in the Ullman Center, Room 102