New Hunting Laws Are Coming To Montana, Get Ready For March

Montana hunters and anglers will see significant changes heading into the 2026 license year, as new laws and regulations take effect starting March 1, when licenses go on sale statewide.

State officials say the updates, approved by the Legislature and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, are aimed at managing wildlife populations, adjusting hunting pressure and modernizing the licensing system.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is shifting to a new “License Ambassador” program, moving in-person sales to an online system used by participating businesses. Officials say the change replaces outdated equipment and expands access to license sales.

Several of the most notable changes affect deer hunting. New rules limit many mule deer B licenses to private land and reduce the number of deer licenses residents can hold from eight to three. State regulators say the changes are intended to protect mule deer populations and better manage harvest levels.

Elk regulations were also updated, including limits on certain licenses and new restrictions tying some tags to private land in northwest Montana.

In south-central Montana, wildlife managers created new black bear permit areas, requiring hunters to apply by April 1. Hunters can now also build bonus points for black bear permits.

Antelope hunters will see adjustments to license quotas and regional groupings, while bighorn sheep hunters will no longer use bonus points for unlimited districts, which will now be issued through a drawing.

Lawmakers also approved a new $50 license for nonresident shed hunters using wildlife management areas and imposed a seven-day delay before nonresidents can collect antlers on those lands each spring.

License and application fees increased across several categories. The nonresident base hunting license rose from $15 to $50, while combination licenses for big game, elk and deer also saw price increases.

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Nonresident upland bird hunters will face new restrictions as well, with seasons on some public and access lands starting 10 days later than for residents.

Officials urge hunters and anglers to review updated regulations before purchasing licenses or applying for permits, as rules may vary by hunting district.