Black Bear Management Units (PDF)
Note: This map is intended as a guide. Please refer to the legal descriptions in the hunting regulations for actual boundaries.
Mandatory Harvest Reporting
There is a mandatory 48-hour reporting requirement for all successful black bear hunters.
For black bears harvested within Region 1, physical inspection of a harvested black bear is not required. Successful Region 1 hunters must submit two premolar teeth from harvested black bears and deliver them to a FWP office within 10 days, either in person or by mail (postmarked within 10 days).
Within 10 days of harvesting a black bear, the successful hunter must present to a Montana FWP official the complete bear hide and skull for the purpose of inspection, tagging and possible removal of a tooth (for aging). The hide and skull must be presented in a condition that allows full inspection and tooth collection (i.e., unfrozen). Any hide or skull not presented or registered to FWP personnel within 10 days of harvest is subject to confiscation.
In Bear Management Units with a harvest quota BMUs 300, 301, 319, and 580 are subject to close, with regular public notice, at any point after May 31 if the cumulative spring harvest exceeds 37% female black bears. In BMUs 411, 420, 440, 450, 510, 520, 600, and 700 when the quota is reached or approached in each of these districts, the black bear season in that district will close.
Black bear harvest quota status information may be obtained:
By calling 1-800-385-7826 or 406-444-1989 for statewide information
In BMUs (300, 301, 319, 411, 420, 440, 450, 510, 520, 530, 580, 600 and 700), the hound training season begins 48 HOURS after the official spring season closure (which is based on harvest criteria, quotas, or sub quotas being met in that BMU) and ends on June 15.
The spring black bear season ends June 15, which eliminates a separate hound training season in areas where there is not a BMU harvest quota.
If you have NOT harvested a black bear:
You may continue to pursue black bears using dogs under your valid Black Bear license.
If you HAVE harvested a black bear:
You may no longer chase or train dogs on black bears for the remainder of the season unless you are in an area with a closed BMU harvest quota
Exception (Residents Only):
Resident hound hunters who have harvested a black bear may still assist another hunter in pursuing a black bear, as long as that individual has not yet harvested one.
Nonresident Restriction:
Nonresident hound hunters may only use dogs for their own personal harvest and may not assist others in pursuing black bears with dogs.
Hound hunting and training is prohibited in all or portions of bear
management units that include occupied grizzly bear habitat.
See the map on pages 8-9 and specifics in the regulations for
each BMU.
Authorized black bear hunting and training hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset.
It is prohibited for a dog owner or black bear hunter to release dogs on a black bear, or allow dogs to chase a black bear, or hold a black bear at bay during any period of the day or year when the season is not open to hunting or chasing black bears. Legitimate attempts to retrieve loose dogs after legal hunting hours does not constitute a violation of this rule.
Black Bear Specific Regulations (CR)
It is unlawful to harvest/take black bear cubs. Cubs are defined as bears less than one year old.
It is unlawful to harvest/take a female black bear with cubs.
Seasons
These dates are provided only as a general reference. Check current regulations or use FWP's online Hunt Planner for specific dates.
2026 SEASON
Spring: Apr. 15 - June 15
Spring Hound Training: ONLY IN BMU WITH HARVEST QUOTA AND OPENS 48 HRS AFTER THE CLOSE OF A BMU
Archery: Sept. 5 - Sept. 14
Fall: Sept. 15 - Nov. 29
Harvest Quota
BMUs 300, 301, 319, and 580 are subject to close, with regular public notice, at any point after May 31 if the cumulative spring harvest exceeds 37% female black bears. In BMUs 411, 420, 440, 450, 510, 520, 600, and 700 when the quota is reached or approached in each of these districts, the black bear season in that district will close.
Black bear harvest quota status information may be obtained:
By calling 1-800-385-7826 or 406-444-1989 for statewide information
Black Bear License - This license is available Over the Counter.
Black Bear Permits - MARCH 1 - APRIL 1
Black bear permits 510 and 520 are allotted by drawing only. The application deadline is April 1. All hunters must hold a black bear license before applying for a permit.
Black bear permits must be used in conjunction with a valid Black Bear License. A permit does not allow the harvest of an additional black bear but does allow a hunter to continue hunting in a harvestrestricted BMU after the harvest quota has been met (during an established season).
Deadline
April 1
Nonresident Hound License
Availability
This license is available via Special Drawing.
Deadline
April 1
Licenses & Fees
A hunter may purchase only one black bear license over the counter per year.
Prerequisite
Hunters must show proof of having passed a free bear identification test before purchasing a black bear license.
Spring Season
Fees:
Resident: $19
Nonresident: $350
Fall Season
Fees:
Resident: $19
Nonresident: $350
Bow and Arrow (Archery)
Details: A bow and arrow license, plus the proper hunting license is required during black bear archery-only season or to archery hunt black bear in an Arch-Equip only area or hunting district.
Fees:
Resident: $10
Nonresident: $10
Non-resident Hound License
Details: The 2021 Legislature expanded the ability for the commission to authorize hound hunting, and nonresidents are now allowed to pursue black bears with hounds during hunting seasons if they obtain a Class D-4 Nonresident Hound License. To apply for a Nonresident Hound license, a nonresident must already hold a black bear license. The holder of a Nonresident Class D-4 Black Bear Hound License may only pursue black bears for the purpose of personally harvesting and may not assist another person in the pursuit of a black bear for harvest. Any area restrictions on the Black Bear License and the Nonresident Black Bear Hound License both apply as well as quota restrictions in quota areas. The deadline to apply is April 1.
Fees:
$250
Harvest Quota & Reports
Harvest Quota
BMUs 300, 301, 319, and 580 are subject to close, with regular public notice, at any point after May 31 if the cumulative spring harvest exceeds 37% female black bears. In BMUs 411, 420, 440, 450, 510, 520, 600, and 700 when the quota is reached or approached in each of these districts, the black bear season in that district will close.
Black bear harvest quota status information may be obtained:
By calling 1-800-385-7826 or 406-444-1989 for statewide information
Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis, is a disease that people can get by eating raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the microscopic parasite, Trichinella. Infection occurs commonly in certain wild carnivorous animals such as bear or cougar, or omnivorous animals such as domestic pigs or wild boar.
FWP recommends that all bear and lion meat be thoroughly cooked before consumption by humans or pets. For hunters who still desire Trichinella testing, they may send a tissue sample to the Montana Department of Livestock’s diagnostic lab.
Black bears reside across most of Montana. Grizzly bears reside mostly in western Montana but are increasingly roaming into areas where they have not occupied for decades.
All bears are potentially dangerous. The overwhelming majority of bear encounters do not involve conflict. The majority of human-bear conflicts involve bears protecting their young or a food source.
