New license year starts March 1, here’s what you need to know
HELENA – New Year’s Day for many outdoor recreationists in Montana is March 1. This is the day everyone can buy their 2026 hunting and fishing licenses and apply for special draw licenses and permits. It’s also the day when recreationists need to renew their conservation license to support the state lands they use.
This year, hunters and anglers will see quite a few changes that are worth paying close attention to. These changes come from legislation passed by the 2025 Montana Legislature and new regulations adopted by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Licenses for the 2026 license year can be purchased starting Sunday, March 1. If you plan on being in the field on that day, you can buy your license online here.
Hunters and anglers buying their license in person at a local business will see some changes as FWP is transitioning to a License Ambassador program. This change will move all licensing sales to Montana’s online licensing system. This allows FWP to add additional businesses that would like to sell licenses and move away from the old point-of-sale systems that were unreplaceable and outdated.
As always, you can buy and apply for licenses online and at your local FWP office as well. Note that some businesses who used to sell licenses may not anymore. To find a License Ambassador, see the map here.
Deer
Some of the biggest changes hunters will notice are with deer regulations. In December, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted several hunting district-specific changes to deer licenses and permits. The commission also made some regulation changes aimed at protecting mule deer numbers and managing hunting pressure. These include:
- Many Mule Deer B Licenses will be valid only on private land. Check your specific hunting district.
- Residents can only hold up to three deer licenses, including their General Deer License. This isdown from up to eight in past years.
Nonresidents continue to be limited to one Deer B License, unless they draw a combo license and then they can hold two.
Like always, make sure to read the regulations prior to buying or applying for any licenses or permits. The regulations for your hunting district may have changed.
Elk
Regulations changes approved by the commission include:
- The quota of the 799-20 Elk License is 325. A second antlerless Elk B License will be available to any holder of an Elk Permit in hunting districts 702, 704, or 705, subject to the same restrictions in time, open areas, and limitations associated with the permit.
- All Region 1 Elk B Licenses will only be valid on private land.
Black bear
The commission also established Black Bear Permits in two bear management units in FWP Region 5, south-central Montana. The deadline to apply for these permits is April 1. Hunters can also accrue bonus points for black bears.
Antelope
- The quota of 900-20 Licenses (archery antelope) is 5,600. Region 3 is no longer in this bundle and was placed in its own pool with 500 licenses.
- The Region 3 Antelope Archery Licenses are 399-20.
Bighorn sheep
Montana has five unlimited bighorn sheep hunting districts. This year those licenses will only be issued through a drawing.
- Hunters applying for any unlimited opportunity will no longer participate in the bonus point program. This keeps hunters from spending their bonus points on an unlimited draw.
Shed hunters
The 2025 Montana Legislature passed a law that implements a Nonresident Shed Hunting License for Montana’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). Additionally, this new law prohibits nonresidents from picking up antlers on WMAs for the first seven days they are open to the public in the spring. Most WMAs open to the public at 12 p.m. on May 15. However, some have different openings dates. Nonresident shed hunters must review the regulations for the WMA they are looking to visit. There are no changes for resident shed hunters.
A Shed Hunting License for nonresidents costs $50.
License and application fees
The 2025 Montana Legislature passed laws adjusting several license fees. The new fees are as follows:
- Nonresident Base Hunting License fee increased from $15 to $50
- Fee for resident and nonresident Crane and Swan License - $10 and $75 respectively.
- Application fees $10 resident, $50 nonresident
- Resident Migratory Bird License increased from $5.50 to $10
- Increased Resident Upland Bird and Sportsman’s Combo License fees:
- Upland bird from $7.50 to $10
- Sportsman without Bear from $62 to $64.50
- Sportsman with Bear from $77 to $79.50
- Increased Nonresident Upland Bird (season and three-day) and resets combination license fees:
- Upland Bird (season) from $110 to $127
- Upland Bird (three-day) from $50 to $60
- Big Game Combo to $1,312
- Elk Combo to $1,112
- Deer Combo to $760
Upland Birds
The 2025 Montana Legislature passed a law that limits nonresident upland game bird hunting seasons. In 2026, nonresidents hunting on public lands and privately owned lands that are a part of a hunting access program begin hunting 10 days later than residents for all species except mountain grouse.
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