Our Guide to Hunting in Montana: A Way of Life
Montana is a land of wonders, and frankly, a land of contrasts. It is a land of high, rolling prairies, part of the Great Plains which makes up a large portion of the state. We tend to think of it as a mostly mountainous state (GREAT for UTVs, Roxors, and other OHVs to run on roads legally), but that isn’t the case. Most of Montana is made up of the Great Plains, much like eastern Wyoming and Colorado, and the western halves of the Dakotas all the way down to the Texas Panhandle.
But even then, it is a little more complex than just “plains or mountains.” Montana is broken up into six distinct regions for the sake of tourism, which we’ll talk about a little later. Another way the state is broken up is in terms of hunting. There are different groups of animals, methods of harvesting the animals, and of course, seasons in which to hunt them. Our focus these next few weeks is to shed light on the different seasons in Montana, and how they all come together to make it one of the best places on earth to hunt.
An Introduction to Hunting in Montana
Every single year, hunting adds billions of dollars to the economy of Montana. That’s right: billions. Out of state spending (non-resident) in Montana provided a staggering $3.5 billion to the state economy.
Hunting is done in every region of the state, with each geographic area providing a different hunting experience.
Montana’s Hunting Landscape
For the sake of hunting, the two different primary geographies of the state create an incredible diversity of animals for the harvesting. The Great Plains are well known for its abundance of all sorts of animals. From upland game birds (pheasant, quail, prairie chickens), to medium game like Mule and Whitetail deer, antelope, and elk, the Plains have it all.
The river regions are a great place for hunting waterfowl in Montana, where major flyways exist for common waterfowl.
And then in the mountains, you will find all kinds of prizes: elk, moose, black bear, sheep. Montana is a smorgasbord of incredible opportunities. And, in case we need to remind you, a street-legal UTV is just about the perfect vehicle to use in the Plains, the river bottoms, or up in the mountains. They can get into places that few other vehicles can, and are very hard to get stuck even in deep standing water (ask me how I know).
Understanding Montana Hunting Regulations and Seasons
Before we talk specifics, there are a lot of variables in the states. For instance, there are more than one type of weapon for some species, namely medium- and large-game animals. Deer has three seasons (archery, black powder, high-power rifle), as do elk (they share identical seasons in Montana).
Hunting Regions in Montana
There are several hunting regions in Montana, seven to be exact.
Image courtesy of Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Region 1: Northwest Montana
The northwest corner of Montana is a vast, untamed region characterized by pristine lakes and rivers, extensive forests, and sweeping mountain ranges. It forms part of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, one of the most intact ecosystems on the planet. The area boasts a rich variety of wildlife, hosting nearly all of North America’s large mammals, such as grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolves, lynx, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats.
A significant portion of the region is publicly owned, offering millions of acres for hunting and outdoor recreation.
This area is home to Montana’s wildest rivers and most untouched lakes, including Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S., covering 125,000 acres. The region also features over 3,000 miles of fishable streams, serving as critical habitats for westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and other fish species.
Geographically, the region is bordered by the Flathead Indian Reservation to the south, Glacier National Park and the U.S.-Canada border to the north, the Montana-Idaho border to the west, and extends to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in the east.
Region 2: West-Central Montana
West-central Montana's administrative Region 2 is characterized by Northern Rocky Mountain peaks soaring above 10,000 feet and more than 1,500 miles of valley trout streams. With over 62% of the region consisting of public land, there are numerous recreational opportunities for both locals and visitors.
The area is home to deer, elk, moose, sheep, black bears, and goats, offering a wide range of hunting experiences. Seventy-two regional fishing access sites provide entry points for fishing, white-water rafting, floating, and kayaking on the Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Bitterroot Rivers, while 170 public lakes and reservoirs offer additional fishing and boating opportunities.
Region 3: Southwest Montana
Region 3, situated in southwest Montana, covers the counties of Beaverhead, Broadwater, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Park, Silver Bow, and part of Deer Lodge. Spanning 18,089 square miles, the region accounts for over 12% of Montana’s total land area. Approximately 60% of this land is public, managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
Southwest Montana features broad valleys with prairie habitats consisting of grasslands, sagebrush, and wooded riparian zones, transitioning into foothills and mountains that reach elevations up to 11,000 feet. While the lower lands are predominantly privately owned, most of the higher elevations are federally managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management..
About 26% of all angling in Montana occurs here, with 95 fishing access sites throughout the area. Southwest Montana is also a prime destination for big game hunting, with Region 3 responsible for nearly 50% of the state's total elk harvest.
Region 4: North Central Montana
Region 4 in north-central Montana covers 30,677 square miles, making up about 20.8% of the state. Home to around 180,000 people, nearly half reside in Cascade County. About 27.6% of the land is public, managed by federal agencies, and it includes diverse wildlife, with 64 fish species, 75 mammals, 338 bird species, and populations of all ten common big game animals. The region offers abundant outdoor recreation, including 63 fishing access sites, 133 lakes and reservoirs, 3,700 miles of fishable water, and two river corridors. It also supports hunting through 116 Block Management Areas, covering over 1.4 million acres.
Region 5: South Central Montana
Region 5, bordered by the Beartooth and Crazy Mountains in the southwest and the prairies to the east, is a landscape of striking contrasts.
The area's five state parks provide diverse activities, ranging from exploring archaeological sites and boating to fishing, prairie dog viewing, and visiting the home of the last chief of the Crow Indians.
The Yellowstone, Stillwater, Bighorn, and Boulder Rivers offer abundant recreation. Anglers can fish for Yellowstone cutthroat, brown, and rainbow trout, as well as smallmouth bass and channel catfish, while boaters can float leisurely or navigate the class IV rapids of the Stillwater River.
Hunting opportunities include upland game birds, deer, and antelope on the prairies, with bears and elk in the mountains. Hikers in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness are treated to stunning scenery and wildlife such as bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, elk, and bears, with high mountain lakes providing picturesque spots for fishing for cutthroat, rainbow, brook, and golden trout.
Region 6: Northeast Montana
Region 6 in northeast Montana stretches from the shortgrass prairies near the Canadian border to fertile cropland along the Milk and Missouri rivers, offering vast recreational opportunities. The region is home to antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and world-class elk and bighorn sheep herds in the Missouri River Breaks.
Waterfowl, including ducks and geese, thrive in the Prairie Pothole region, while pheasants, sharp-tailed, and sage grouse are abundant in agricultural and prairie areas. Anglers flock to Fort Peck Reservoir for walleye, northern pike, and lake trout, while smaller reservoirs and the Missouri River provide additional fishing opportunities.
Region 7: Southeast Montana
Finally, we have Region 7. This region is deeply planted in the Great Plains, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there isn’t spectacular geography. It is also a great place for hunting and fishing.
With 75% of the land privately owned, most recreational activities require landowner permission. The region is renowned for mule deer and antelope hunting, along with upland game bird and waterfowl opportunities. Fishing is popular in ponds, reservoirs, and the Missouri, Yellowstone, and Tongue rivers, with a unique paddlefish season available in spring.
Weapon Types for Montana Hunting
Alright, so now that you know a little more about the Montana hunting landscape, let’s talk about what kind of hardware you can use for the hunt.
Bowhunting in Montana
Bowhunting is both highly challenging and equally rewarding. Montana bow hunting is extremely popular, with almost sixty thousand bowhunters hunting in Montana annually. You read that right. Almost sixty thousand. But that makes sense when you realize there are over 3 ½ million bowhunters in the United States.
But don’t let these numbers scare you off; only about seven percent of the total Montana deer harvest is taken by archery.
Here are some of the pertinent rules and laws for bowhunting Montana:
Bows must be at least 28 inches long, measured from axle to axle
Bows must be longbows, flatbows, recurves, or compounds designed to be shot vertically. No crossbows in Montana during archery-only seasons, but they can be used in general seasons.
Bows must be hand-drawn, meaning the shooter must use their own muscle power to move the bowstring from brace height to full draw
Arrows must be at least 20 inches long, including the broadhead
Arrows must weigh at least 300 grains with the broadhead attached
Arrows must have broadheads with at least two cutting edges
Bow sights, arrows with artificial light, and electronics are not permitted
Bowhunter education is required for all archery hunters, regardless of age
A bow and arrow license, plus the appropriate hunting licenses, are required for archery hunting
Black Powder Hunting: Tradition Meets Challenge
Black powder rifles, which is known as the muzzleloading hunting season in Montana, enjoys a sort of renaissance. Muzzleloaders are somewhere in between the experiences of archery and high powered rifles.
Modern archery equipment is so advanced that it can hardly be described as connecting to the roots of hunting, but muzzleloaders are a little different. In Montana, the rifle must be loaded from the barrel and not the breach, be a minimum of .45 caliber, and use plain lead projectiles; i.e., no Sabots.
There are specific muzzleloader seasons for Deer and Elk, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for other game like moose, mountain goat, and bear if you really like a challenge.
High-Powered Rifle Hunting
The most common and utilitarian way to take medium and large game is with high-powered hunting rifles. They are also the most common way to take these types of game, and with dozens upon dozens of calibers, and equally as many brands, styles, and types of rifles to shoot them, your choices are almost limitless.
High-powered rifles span ten species across Montana, and cover the entire state. These seasons are generally short, and the bulk of animals harvested in the state will be from rifles.
Shotgun Hunting
Now, the high-powered rifle is the most common types of weapon for medium and big game, but the shotgun is the most utilitarian firearm in existence.
Shotguns can be used for almost any game in the state, so long as you follow the ammunition specifications. Of course, it is the standard weapon for all wing shooting of upland birds, waterfowl, and turkeys. But you can also take bison, bears, moose, elk, deer, and sheep with shotguns so long as you use 0 or 00 buckshot, or slugs. The regulations do not state whether or not they need to be solid rifled slugs or if Sabot slugs are okay.
Again, the shotgun comes in as the most useful firearm in existence and it isn’t close.
Final Thoughts
This article is the first in a series of #MontanaMonday articles that are all about the fishing and game industry in Montana. We are proud to be a company that works closely with Montana and supports the industries that support the state. With over two hundred thousand hunters in Montana, they know a thing or two about it.
And we know a thing or two about the best vehicles to take into those hard to get places. I can’t think of a better way to get a bull moose to the butcher than a street-legal LMTV. A street-legal Humvee is an awesome truck to get into the backcountry and get to your favorite hunting spot, or river bank. And of course, a street legal UTV is a great way to get to the hunts and bring back your trophy.
We can’t help you hit your target, but we can sure help you with tagging your OHVs in Montana.
Montana's nickname is "The Treasure State," and even though that is due to all of the physical treasure there, one look at the natural beauty will tell you that slogan isn't just talking about gold and silver. Dirt Legal is proud to work closely with Montana, and we think this incredible state deserves a little more fanfare than it usually gets.