Highlights

• 48-hour reporting requirement for all black bear harvests.

• Mandatory inspection of black bear harvests has changed. See page 10 for more information.

Corrections to the 2025 printed black bear regulations

Highlights

• Over-the-counter Deer B and Elk B License purchase date changed to June 15. 

• Deadline for deer/elk permits and Nonresident Combination License applications is April 1. 

Highlights

• Wolf trapping seasons and dates will be addressed at November 2024 meeting. 

• Wolverines are protected by Federal law under the Endangered Species Act.

Additional Fall 2024–Winter 2025 Wolf and other Species Trapping Regulations Within and Outside the Geographic Scope Identified by Federal Court Order

Corrections to the printed Wolf, Furbearer, and Trapping Regulations

Highlights

• Hunters should be aware that there may be very few opportunities to harvest light geese in the spring in the Central Flyway due to very few birds being present or available.

• Light goose conservation order opportunity only available in the Central Flyway. Federal frameworks do not allow a Conservation Order in the Pacific Flyway.

Highlights

• 72 hour Reporting Requirement: Federal
  regulations require that hunters shooting
  a swan in either flyway in Montana must
  complete and return a Swan Bill Measurement
  Card within 72 hours of harvesting a
  swan.

• The Central Flyway is divided into two “zones” in order to increase opportunity. The two zones have different season dates. 

Highlights

• For bighorn sheep hunters that hunt within the unlimited districts, mandatory reporting time has been reduced to 24 hours following your harvest and seasons will close 24 hours after the quota is met. Physical inspection may occur within 72 hours following your harvest.

Corrections to the Printed 2025 Moose, Sheep, Goat and Bison Regulations

Highlights

• Even though the 2025 mountain lion season extends into the 2025 license year, the deadline to purchase 2025 licenses is February 28, 2026

Highlights

• The 2025 turkey hunting regulations have been removed from the upland game bird regulation booklet and have become their own publication.

Highlights

• Due to restoration efforts in recent years, sharp-tailed grouse may now be encountered west of the Continental Divide and sharp-tailed grouse hunting west of the Continental Divide is closed.

• Anyone training bird dogs using game birds NOT raised in captivity needs to hold a license, whether on private or public land. If you are training on captive-reared birds, a license is not required. Nonresident training dates have changed since last year (Sept. 1 through March 31).

Regulations are adopted by the Fish & Wildlife Commission

• These Hunting District Boundaries were adopted by the F&W Commission on December 14, 2023, under the authority granted in MCA 87-1-301 and are valid March 1, 2024, through February 28, 2026. The F&W Commission reserves the authority to amend the Hunting District Boundaries herein if deemed necessary for wildlife management purposes.  
  Dustin Temple, Director.

Corrections

• Corrections to the printed DEA regulations and legal descriptions (PDF)