• Regulations

  Regulations for upcoming seasons are posted online throughout the year. Deer, elk and antelope regulations are typically posted late February.

  • 2022 Deer, Elk, Antelope Regulations (PDF)

   

  Plan Your Hunt Online

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

  • Launch the Montana Hunt Planner

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

   

  2022 Deer Season Dates

  Archery
  September 3 – October 16

  Two-Day Youth Hunt
  October 20 – October 21

  General
  October 22 – November 27

   

  Backcountry Deer & Elk (Hunting Districts 150, 151, 280, 316)

  Archery

  September 3 – September 14

  General

  September 15 – November 27

General Deer License

Details: License is valid for one deer. Hunters may hold only one general deer license, which can be used for deer as indicated under the “General Deer License” heading on the deer and elk hunting regulations. Montana residents 17 and under, holders of a disabled resident conservation license, or residents 62 years and older may purchase this license for $8.

Fees:

• Resident: $16

• Nonresident: N/A

Deer B — Drawing

Details: The B License is an antlerless deer license valid during a specific time period and in a particular hunting district or group of districts. Applicants are required to pay full license fee. Cost includes $5 nonrefundable application fee.

Fees:

• Resident: $15

• Nonresident: $80

Deer B — Over the Counter

Details: The B License is an antlerless deer license valid during a specific time period and in a particular hunting district or group of districts. 

Fees:

• Resident: $10

• Nonresident: $75

Deer B — Antlerless Whitetail, Single Region

Details: Allows hunting of antlerless white-tailed deer only, in one region only. Hunter must designate region upon purchase. Not available for all regions.

Fees:

• Resident: $10

• Nonresident: $75

Deer Combination — General

Details: Nonresidents may apply for only one combination license per year. Includes a General Deer license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. Conservation with State Lands, Base Hunting and Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (AISPP) must be purchased separately. 4,600 licenses available.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A

• Nonresident: $646

Deer Combination — Landowner Sponsored

Details: Nonresidents may apply for only one combination license per year. Includes a General Deer license and authorizes fishing and hunting of upland game birds, excluding turkey. Conservation with State Lands, Base Hunting and Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (AISPP) must be purchased separately. Landowner certificates are obtained from your landowner sponsor. To be certified as a landowner sponsor, contact (406) 444-2950. 2,000 licenses available.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A

• Nonresident: $646

Deer Permits

Details: The permit must be used with a general deer hunting license. A permit is not a second license and does not allow the holder to kill an additional animal. Rather, it expands the opportunity to hunt for a species in a particular hunting district allowing the hunter in some hunting districts to harvest a Buck Mule Deer. General Deer license is available to nonresidents only through the Deer or Big Game Combination licenses. Residents must hold a valid general deer license to apply. Nonresidents must also apply for a big game or deer combination license to apply.

Fees:

• Resident: $5

• Nonresident: $5

Nonresident Montana Native Big Game Combination License

Details: For former resident who was born in Montana with current resident relative, other qualifications apply. Conservation with State Lands, Base Hunting and Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (AISPP) must be purchased separately. Learn more about Nonresident Licenses.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A

• Nonresident: $554

Nonresident Montana Native Deer Combination License

Details: For former resident with current resident relative who was born in Montana, other qualifications apply. Conservation with State Lands, Base Hunting and AISPP must be purchased separately. Learn more about Nonresident Licenses.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A

• Nonresident: $323

Come Home to Hunt — Big Game Combination

Details: To qualify you must have previously hunted in Montana as a resident or hold a Montana hunter education certificate. This license requires a sponsor who is a Montana resident family member, including direct In-laws, who also holds a current years resident hunting license. Includes General Deer and Elk, Upland Game Bird, and Fishing license. Conservation with State Lands, Base Hunting and AISPP must be purchased separately. A total of 500 are available. Learn more about Nonresident Licenses.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A

• Nonresident: $526

Come Home to Hunt – Deer Combination

Details: To qualify you must have previously hunted in Montana as a resident or hold a Montana hunter education certificate. This license requires a sponsor who is a Montana resident family member, including direct In-laws, who also holds a current years resident hunting license. Includes General Deer, Upland Game Bird, and Fishing license. Conservation with State Lands, Base Hunting and AISPP must be purchased separately. A total of 500 are available. Learn more about Nonresident Licenses.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A

• Nonresident: $323

Nonresident Student Hunting License

Details: If you are a nonresident college student currently carrying 12 credits or more at a Montana college or university, you can fish and hunt deer, elk and upland game birds (this includes the AIS Prevention Pass and Base Hunting License). Students must provide at the time of purchase:

• Current enrollment verification form

• Valid student identification

• Proof of completing hunter education in Montana or elsewhere.

Fees:

• Resident: N/A
• Nonresident: $554 (Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk) / $323 (Deer Combo)