New Montana Fish and Wildlife license year starts March 1

This year, hunters and anglers will see quite a few important changes from legislation passed by the 2025 Montana Legislature and new regulations adopted by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. 

Licenses can be purchased online at ols.fwp.mt.gov/ for the 2026 license year starting March 1. 

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that would like to sell licenses and move away from the old point-of-sale systems that were unreplaceable and outdated. 

Licenses can be purchased and applied for online and at local FWP offices, as well. A list of places is available at fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/licenseproviders. 

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.  

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 a General Deer License.  

Nonresidents continue to be limited to one Deer B License, unless they draw a combo license, then they may hold two. 

Read the regulations prior to buying or applying for any licenses or permits. The regulations for your hunting district may have changed. 

Regulation changes for elk that have been 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. 

Additionally, all Region 1 Elk B Licenses will only be valid on private land. 

The commission also established Black Bear Permits in two bear management units in FWP Region 5, south-central Montana. The deadline for applying for these permits is April 1. Hunters can also accrue bonus points for black bears. 

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. 

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 bonus points on an unlimited draw. 

The 2025 Montana Legislature passed a law that implements a Nonresident Shed Hunting License for Montana’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). 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. 

The 2025 Montana Legislature passed laws adjusting several license fees. Nonresident Base Hunting License fee increased from $15 to $50. Fees for resident and nonresident Crane and Swan License are $10 and $75, respectively. 

Application fees are $10 resident, $50 nonresident. The resident Migratory Bird License increased from $5.50 to $10. 

Resident Upland Bird and Sportsman’s Combo License fee increases are: Upland bird from $7.50 to $10. Sportsman without Bear from $62 to $64.50. Sportsman with Bear from $77 to $79.50.                      

Nonresident Upland Bird and resets combination license fee increases are: 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. 

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.