MT Hunting Seasons & Public Land

Montana Hunting Seasons 2026 & District Map

Elk Aug 14–Sep 4. Deer Aug 14–Sep 4. Deer Aug 14–Sep 4.

2,500 Seasons46 Species

Direct Answer

Montana hunting seasons cover 2,500 season dates across 439 hunting districts for Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer and more. Many big game hunts are draw or limited-entry, so confirm application windows before the deadline. Use the tables below for exact opening and closing dates by species and district.

Season data sourced from the Montana wildlife agency. Always verify dates and regulations on the official site before hunting—regulations can change during the season.

Montana Hunting Seasons by Species

Elk

DistrictWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone HD 100ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 100MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 101GeneralAug 15Sep 4
Zone HD 101GeneralAug 15Oct 23
Zone HD 101ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 101GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 101GeneralNov 30Feb 14
Zone HD 101MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 103ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 103GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 103MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 104ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 104GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 104MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 110ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 110GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 110MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 120ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 120GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 120MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 121ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 121GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 121GeneralNov 30Feb 14

+ 524 more Elk seasons

Deer

DistrictWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone HD 100ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 15Oct 16
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 24Oct 30
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 31Nov 29
Zone HD 100MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 101GeneralAug 14Oct 23
Zone HD 101ArcherySep 5Oct 18

+ 492 more Deer seasons

Deer

DistrictWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone HD 100ArcherySep 5Oct 18
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 15Oct 16
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 24Oct 30
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 24Nov 29
Zone HD 100GeneralOct 31Nov 29
Zone HD 100MuzzleloaderDec 12Dec 20
Zone HD 101GeneralAug 14Oct 23
Zone HD 101ArcherySep 5Oct 18

+ 492 more Deer seasons

Antelope

DistrictWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone HD 215ArcherySep 5Oct 9
Zone HD 215ArcherySep 5Oct 9
Zone HD 215GeneralOct 10Nov 8
Zone HD 215GeneralOct 10Nov 8
Zone HD 291ArcherySep 5Oct 9
Zone HD 291ArcherySep 5Oct 9
Zone HD 291GeneralOct 10Nov 8
Zone HD 291GeneralOct 10Nov 8

+ 192 more Antelope seasons

Montana Hunting Season FAQ

When does hunting season start in Montana?

Montana hunting season currently spans Aug 14 to Sep 4 for Elk, with other species opening at different times. Dates vary by district and weapon. This page lists 2,500 Montana season dates across 439 hunting districts.

What can you hunt in Montana?

Montana offers hunting for 46 species, including Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer and more. Each species has its own season dates, weapon rules and bag limits.

How many hunting hunting districts does Montana have?

Montana is divided into 439 hunting districts. Season dates, harvest rates and public-land access differ by unit—use the tables above to compare units before you apply or buy a tag.

Does Montana use a draw or limited-entry system?

Yes. Many Montana big game hunts are allocated by draw or limited-entry tags rather than sold over the counter. Always confirm application windows on the official Montana wildlife agency site before the deadline.

State Resource

Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:

Montana Official Hunting Regulations

View Montana on the map

See District boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for Montana on our interactive hunting map.

Also see Montana public land, license, and regulations.

Hunt Montana with offline maps