Montana Hunting License 2026: Cost, Draws & Deer Tags

Montana's license year runs March 1 through the last day of February. How much is a Montana hunting license? The true total cost starts with two required pieces before species access: the Conservation License ($8 resident / $10 NR) and the Base Hunting License ($10 resident / $50 NR). Residents building a complete deer and elk setup pay $8 conservation + $10 base + $16 general deer + $20 general elk = $54 before any B licenses, archery license, or access fees. The Resident Sportsman License with Bear is $79.50, but hunters still check the separate conservation, base, and AISPP requirements where they apply.

Non-resident licensing in Montana is among the most expensive in the western US. Montana non resident deer tag price planning usually refers to the Non-Resident Deer Combination License, which costs $760 before the required $10 conservation license, $50 base hunting license, and $7.50 Angler AIS Prevention Pass tied to the fishing privilege are added. The NR Elk Combination License is $1,112 and the NR Big Game Combination covering both deer and elk is $1,312; both combo products also require the separate base pieces. That makes the true total cost about $827.50 for the deer combo, $1,179.50 for the elk combo, and $1,379.50 for the deer+elk big game combo before preference points, application fees, outfitter costs, or travel.

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 are $10 resident / $75 non-resident, while Elk B Licenses are $20 resident / $270 non-resident. Depending on district and quota, B licenses can be handled through drawings, leftover sales, or OTC-style availability. Use the Montana deer tag price, draw timing, and B license rules page before applying.

Montana deer and elk planning should stay district-specific. The general license tells you the broad species access, but B licenses, permit areas, shoulder-season style opportunities, CWD rules, and quota closures can change by district. Check FWP's current hunting district regulations before treating a statewide price as the whole answer.

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 accessible predator-license paths compared with many western states. Wolf licenses are listed at $12 resident / $50 non-resident, with lower first-license pricing possible when bundled with resident Sportsman or non-resident combination products. Mountain lion is $19 resident / $320 non-resident, but the actual hunt path depends on restricted, limited, or unlimited district rules and quota closures. Hounds are permitted for lion hunting where the current district rules allow it.

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 application fees that are higher than standard species. Moose permits are extremely limited in popular units. Bighorn sheep and mountain goat availability depends on district, and once-in-a-lifetime restrictions can apply. Pronghorn antelope is $14 resident / $200 NR and requires a draw, so antelope should be planned as an application item rather than a simple add-on.

Montana turkey season 2027 planning should start from the FWP season-setting notice for the current license year, then confirm whether the hunt is spring, fall, or district-specific. The turkey license is listed at $6.50 resident and $115 non-resident, with a lower non-resident turkey price available in some broader bird or combination-license paths. Turkey is a lower-cost resident add-on than deer or elk, but hunters still need the required conservation and base hunting license pieces before buying species access.