2025 Black Bear
Hunting Regulations
Highlights
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48-hour reporting requirement for all black bear harvests.
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Mandatory inspection of black bear harvests has changed. See page 10 for more information.
Hunting Regulations
48-hour reporting requirement for all black bear harvests.
Mandatory inspection of black bear harvests has changed. See page 10 for more information.
Hunting Regulations
Resident deer hunters are limited to purchasing three deer licenses per license year. That may be a general license and
two B licenses or three B licenses.
Many mule deer B licenses are now restricted to private land only. Be sure to check the opportunity specific details for
each hunt.
Over-the-counter Deer B and Elk B License purchase purchase date changed to June 15.
Trapping and Hunting Regulations
Corrections to the 2025 Printed Wolf, Furbearer, and Trapping
Hunting Regulations
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.
Hunting Regulations
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.
Hunting Regulations
Unlimited bighorn sheep licenses will no longer be available over the counter. All unlimited applications must be submitted by May 1.
Hunting Regulations
Even though the 2025 mountain lion season extends into the 2025 license year, the deadline to purchase 2025 licenses is February 28, 2026
Hunting Regulations
The 2025 turkey hunting regulations have been removed from the upland game bird regulation booklet and have become their own publication.
Commission Adopted Changes to the 2025 Printed Turkey Regulations
Hunting Regulations
Free supplemental permit required for sage grouse hunting.
Beginning in 2026: Nonresidents hunting on public lands and privately owned lands that are a part of a hunting access program begin hunting 10 days later than residents for all species except mountain grouse.
These Hunting District Boundaries were adopted by the F&W Commission on December 4, 2025, under the authority granted in MCA 87-1-301 and are valid March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027. The F&W Commission reserves the authority to amend the Hunting District Boundaries herein if deemed necessary for wildlife management purposes.
