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SPECIES GUIDE: BEAR

REGULATIONS & MAPS

  • Regulations

    Regulations for upcoming seasons are posted online throughout the year. Black Bear regulations are typically posted late February.

     

    Maps

    • 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.

    • Harvest Reporting Line: 1-877-FWP-WILD (1-877-397-9453)
    • Through the online MyFWP 

     

    Inspection Requirements

    Region 1 (Northwest Montana) Only

    For black bears harvested within Region 1, physical inspection of a harvested black bear is not required. Successful Region 1 hunters must submit a premolar tooth from harvested black bears and deliver them to a FWP office within 10 days, either in person or by mail (postmarked within 10 days). 

    Regions 2-7

    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.

     

    Harvest Quota

    In Bear Management Units with a harvest quota (BMUs 510, 520, 600 & 700), when a hunting season quota is reached or approached, the black bear hunting season in that district will close.

    Black bear harvest quota status information may be obtained:

     

    Plan Your Hunt Online

    Launch maps, obtain legal descriptions, regulations, and statistics all in one place.

SEASONS

  • These dates are provided only as a general reference. Check current regulations or use FWP’s online Hunt Planner for specific dates.

     

    2022 Black Bear Season Dates

    Spring
    April 15 – May 31*

    *NOTE: Some districts vary; check regulations for more information.

    Spring Hound Hunting

    April 15 – May 25

    Spring Hound Training

    May 26 – June 15

    Archery
    September 3 – September 14

    Fall
    September 15 – November 27

     

    Harvest Quota

    In Bear Management Units with a harvest quota (BMUs 510, 520, 600 & 700), when a hunting season quota is reached or approached, the black bear hunting season in that district will close.

    Black bear harvest quota status information may be obtained:

LICENSES

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

 

Resident Hound Training License

Details: This license entitles the license holder to use a dog or dogs to aid in chasing black bears in any portion of the state open to hound hunting during the hound training season from May 26 – June 15. Hound hunting and training is prohibited in occupied grizzly bear habitat in BMUs 100, 101, 103, 104, 110, 120, 121, 122, 123, 130, 140, 141, 150, 170, that portion of 200 that includes the Ninemile watershed north of I-90, 216 east of the Granite/Ravalli county line, 280, 290, 300 west of I-15, 301 west of I-15 and HWY 69, 309, 317, 341, 400 north and west of I-15/Hwy 87 between Helena and Fort Benton, west of Hwy 223 between Fort Benton and Hwy 2 at Chester, south of Hwy 2 between Chester and I-15 at Shelby, and west of I-15 between Shelby and the Canadian border, 510 West of Hwy 310, 520. The hound training license is available over the counter to resident Conservation License holders 12 years of age or older or who will turn 12 before or during the season for which the license is issued.

Fees:

  • Resident-only: $5

 

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 or hound-training 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 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 March 25.

Fees:

  • $250

SPECIES GUIDES

Bear Hunting 

 

Bear Identification Test

Hunters must show proof of having passed a free bear identification test before purchasing a Black Bear license.

 

Trichinosis in Montana Bears

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. 

 

Stay Safe Around Bears

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.

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