How to Get Your Montana Hunting License

Getting a Montana hunting license starts with two prerequisites that apply to every hunter: the Conservation License ($8 resident / $10 nonresident) and the Base Hunting License Fee ($10 resident / $50 nonresident). Only after those are in hand can you add the species-specific license or tag for what you actually plan to hunt.

Montana requires a hunter education course for anyone born on or after January 1, 1985, before that person can purchase a license, unless they're hunting through the Apprentice Hunter Program. Licenses are sold exclusively online through the FWP's licensing portal or at a License Ambassador location, and they run from March 1 through the last day of February the following year rather than a rolling 365-day window.

This guide walks you through how to get your Montana hunting license and hunter education certification, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Montana?

A Montana hunting license is built from layered pieces rather than one all-in-one product. Every hunter needs the Conservation License and Base Hunting License Fee first, then adds a species license, such as the General Deer License or General Elk License, on top.

The license itself is separate from your hunter education certification. The certification proves you completed an FWP-approved course and, once earned, it's good for life. The Conservation License and species licenses, by contrast, expire every February 28 (or 29) and have to be purchased again for the next license year.

Residents who want convenience can bundle several pieces at once through the Resident Sportsman Package.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Montana?

Montana requires the Conservation License and Base Hunting License Fee for nearly every hunter, but the hunter education requirement runs on a birth-year cutoff with a distinct youth pathway. Age, birth date, and the species you're hunting all play a role in what applies to you.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1985 must complete an approved hunter education course before buying most licenses, unless one of the following applies:

1. Ages 10 and 11: may hunt through the Apprentice Hunter Program, supervised within arm's reach by a mentor 21 or older, without completing hunter education first.
2. Age 12 or older, still uncertified: the Apprentice Hunter Certification ($5) extends supervised hunting privileges for up to two license years while working toward full certification.
3. Any age, hunting with archery equipment: bowhunter education is required regardless of birth year, separate from the general hunter education requirement.
4. Youth 12 to 17 and seniors 62 and older: qualify for reduced Conservation License fees ($4) and discounted species licenses across the board.

Whichever category applies to you, keep your hunter education certificate on hand while hunting.

How to Get Your Montana Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Montana means confirming your hunter education status first, since the requirement depends on your birth date and whether you're hunting with archery equipment. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born on or after January 1, 1985, and a separate bowhunter education course if you plan to hunt with archery equipment.
2. Create an account through the FWP's online licensing portal at fwp.mt.gov.
3. Purchase your Conservation License and Base Hunting License Fee, the two prerequisites for every hunter.
4. Add your species license, such as a General Deer License ($16) or General Elk License ($20), or apply for a limited draw.
5. Carry your license and hunter education certificate any time you hunt, either on paper or through the MyFWP app.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Montana's hunter education requirement varies by age at the time you register for the course.

1. In-person, instructor-led course, ages 10 and up: Attend all classroom sessions and a field day, then pass a final exam, entirely free of charge.
2. Online plus field day, ages 12 to 17: Pass the online course, then attend a required four-hour in-person field day to complete certification.
3. All-online, age 18 and up: Pass the course and print your permanent certification immediately, with no in-person field day required.

However you get there, your certification never expires and travels with you for life, so there's no annual renewal to track.

Step 2: Purchase Your License

Once you have your hunter education certification, if required, you can buy your license through the FWP's licensing requirements page at fwp.mt.gov.

You'll need a government-issued photo ID, proof of hunter education if required, and payment. As of March 1, 2026, Montana sells licenses exclusively online or through a License Ambassador location, with no over-the-counter retail sales.

Step 3: Add Species Licenses and Go Hunting

The Conservation License and Base Hunting License Fee don't cover any actual game. Deer, elk, and other big game each require their own separate license or draw application, purchased after your two prerequisites.

Once your license and any needed species tags are in hand, you're ready to hunt. Before you head out, review general hunting safety practices to make sure you're field-ready.

Montana Hunting License Requirements by Age

Let's look at the requirements for hunting licenses in Montana by age.

Species licenses: General Deer ($16 resident, discounted to $8 for youth, disabled, and senior residents) and General Elk ($20 resident, discounted to $10) each require separate purchase, with nonresidents generally needing a Deer, Elk, or Big Game Combination license through the annual drawing.

Season dates vary by species and hunting district, so check the current listing before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Montana stands out for requiring bowhunter education for archery hunters of any age, a separate and distinct requirement from the general hunter education birth-year cutoff. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

No matter the format you choose, the certification you earn is good for the rest of your hunting life. No renewal required. Only your Conservation License and species licenses need replacing, and in Montana that happens every year on March 1.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Montana hunting license. You'll need:

• Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license
• Hunter education certification, if required for your birth year
• Bowhunter education certification, if hunting with archery equipment
• Payment (credit or debit card, since Montana no longer sells licenses over the counter)

Montana Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting without a required license in Montana is a misdemeanor under Montana's hunting laws and regulations, carrying a fine of $50 to $1,000, up to six months in a county detention center, or both. A conviction can also lead to forfeiture of current hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges for a period set by the court.

What About Reciprocity?

Montana accepts hunter education certificates from any other U.S. state or Canadian province, since the state's own program is built to IHEA-USA standards. Other IHEA-USA-compliant states and provinces return the favor and accept a Montana Hunter Education Certificate.

The hunting license itself, however, is not transferable. Hunters visiting from out of state still need to apply for Montana's nonresident licenses, most of which require a successful draw.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-residents can hunt in Montana through the General Deer Combination ($760), General Elk Combination ($1,112), or Big Game Combination ($1,312), all allocated through an annual random drawing with an application window from March 1 through April 1. Preference Points ($100) can be purchased to improve future draw odds for hunters who aren't selected.

Start Your Montana Hunter Safety Course Today

The Hunter-Ed Montana course is approved by FWP, self-paced, and available on any device. Complete the course, finish your field day if you're under 18, and get your lifetime Montana hunter education certification.

Approved by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) | Last verified August 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need a hunting license in Montana?

A: Yes, every hunter in Montana needs a Conservation License and Base Hunting License Fee before adding any species-specific license. Hunters 10 and 11 can hunt as an Apprentice under a mentor's supervision before completing certification.

Q: How old do you have to be to get Montana hunter education certification?

A: You must be at least 10 years old to take Montana's in-person hunter education course, though certification itself isn't finalized until the year you turn 12. Bowhunter education, by contrast, applies to archery hunters of any age with no minimum tied to birth year.

Q: How much does a Montana hunting license cost?

A: A resident Conservation License costs $8 and the Base Hunting License Fee costs $10, both required before adding a species license like the $16 General Deer License. Non-residents pay considerably more, including a $50 Base Hunting License Fee and combination licenses running into the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Q: Does a Montana hunting license expire?

A: Yes. Montana licenses run from March 1 through the last day of February the following year, so every license expires at the same point each winter regardless of when you bought it.

Q: Can I complete Montana hunter education entirely online?

A: Yes, if you're 18 or older, since the all-online path requires no in-person field day. Hunters ages 12 to 17 can complete the knowledge portion online but must still attend an in-person field day to finish certification.

Q: Do I need hunter education in Montana?

A: Yes, if you were born on or after January 1, 1985 and aren't hunting through the Apprentice Hunter Program. Archery hunters need bowhunter education specifically, regardless of their birth year, on top of or instead of general hunter education.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Montana?

A: Hunting without a required license in Montana carries a fine of $50 to $1,000, up to six months in a county detention center, or both. A conviction can also result in forfeiture of hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges for a period set by the court.