Montana Hunting License: Cost, Online Purchase & Combo Draws (2026)

Montana's license year runs March 1 through the last day of February. Before purchasing any hunting license, all hunters — resident and non-resident — must first obtain a Conservation License ($8 resident / $10 NR). This serves as the entry credential for all subsequent purchases. The next step is the Base Hunting License ($10 res / $50 NR), which enables purchase of species-specific tags. Residents building a complete deer and elk setup pay: $8 conservation + $10 base + $16 deer + $20 elk = $54 total. The Resident Sportsman License with Bear ($79.50) bundles all these components plus fishing and upland birds into one efficient package.

Non-resident licensing in Montana is among the most expensive in the western US. The NR Deer Combination License ($760) and NR Elk Combination License ($1,112) each include fishing and upland bird privileges. The NR Big Game Combination covering both deer and elk runs $1,312. These must be added to the $10 conservation + $50 base license for a total minimum investment of $1,372 for the deer+elk combo. In 2026, Montana reduced its NR deer tag allocation by 2,500 — a significant policy change that tightened draw odds and signals ongoing NR quota pressure. Non-resident preference points accumulate at $100 per year for unsuccessful applicants.

Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1985. The free online course requires a mandatory in-person field day. Youth ages 10–11 may participate in the Mentored Hunting Program without hunter ed, accompanied by a licensed adult within arm's reach. Youth ages 12–17 receive discounted license fees: conservation $4, deer $8, elk $10. Senior residents 62+ qualify for the same reduced rates. Residents with 60%+ service-connected disability receive free conservation licenses and reduced species tag fees. Active duty military stationed in Montana purchase at resident rates.

Non-resident big game licenses in Montana are awarded through an annual draw. Applications open March 1 and close April 1 ($5 non-refundable application fee per species). Draw results are typically announced in May. Unsuccessful NR applicants may purchase leftover licenses in July on a first-come-first-served basis at fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply — the leftover window can sell out within hours for popular species. Non-residents can also accumulate preference points ($100/year) by purchasing points-only without applying for a tag. The points system increases draw odds each unsuccessful year.

Montana's B License system is a supplemental antlerless tag program available for specific hunting districts. Deer B Licenses ($15 res / $80 NR) and Elk B Licenses ($20–$25 res / $270–$275 NR) are available either through a secondary draw or leftover OTC sales. Some districts offer OTC cow elk B tags, allowing residents to take multiple elk in high-density areas. This system is Montana's primary population management tool and gives resident hunters outstanding multi-animal harvest opportunities in productive districts.

A major 2026 regulation change reduced Montana's deer bag limit from 8 to 3 deer total per year (combining general and all B tags). This was driven by concerns about mule deer population recovery across the state's western and central hunting districts. The change significantly impacts resident hunters who previously could accumulate multiple antlerless B tags. For non-residents, the 2,500-tag reduction in the NR deer allocation further tightens already competitive draw odds. Both changes represent a shift toward conservative management — early evidence of Montana prioritizing herd quality over harvest volume.

Montana holds one of the premier elk hunting destinations in the Rocky Mountain West. The general elk season runs archery September 6–October 19, followed by rifle October 25–November 30. Resident elk tags cost just $20 — arguably the best elk value of any western state at resident prices. Non-resident elk combo at $1,112 is expensive but provides access to a state with an estimated 140,000+ elk across diverse public and private habitat. FWP manages multiple elk hunting districts with varying OTC and draw requirements. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Bitterroot Range, and Beartooth Plateau are among Montana's most storied elk hunting grounds.

Montana offers one of the most accessible wolf hunts in the country. The wolf season runs September 15–March 15 with liberal annual limits: typically 5–10 per hunter depending on region, with no bag limit in some units. Tags cost $22 resident / $250 NR. Trapping wolves is also legal with appropriate licensing. Mountain lion hunting is managed on an OTC tag system ($19 res / $350 NR) with district-specific quotas that close the season when the limit is reached. Hounds are permitted for lion hunting. Both wolf and lion tags are available directly without a draw in most districts.

Montana's once-in-a-lifetime big game species — moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat — carry a $125 resident / $1,250 NR tag fee with a $50 resident / $100 NR non-refundable application fee. Moose permits are extremely limited with preference point requirements of 20+ years in popular units. Bighorn sheep is restricted to a once-in-a-lifetime rule — residents who draw cannot apply again for the same species. Mountain goat availability varies by unit. Pronghorn antelope ($16 res / $205 NR) requires a draw; archery antelope tags are available OTC for residents in some districts, offering a lower-cost backcountry antelope option.