Get ready for deer hunting season in Montana! Montana is well-known for its mountain ranges where we can hunt Mule and White-tailed deer. Hunting in a mountainous area has unique challenges, so we best prepare. Before you get out there and hunt, ensure you have the correct licenses and permits. It’s also suggested that you get your weapon specs up to standard with state requirements. We have compiled a list of necessities you need to know before the season begins.
Season Dates
Season dates vary depending on what weapon you are hunting with and what age category you fall into. Below is a list of the season’s dates for deer hunting in Montana from 2023-2024. If you would like more information, you can check the Montana e-regulations page.
| Deer and Elk | Start Date | End Date | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept 2, 2023, | Oct 15, 2023, | |
| Youth (deer only) | Oct 19, 2023, | Oct 20, 2023, | |
| General | Oct 21, 2023, | Nov 26, 2023 | |
| Shoulder seasons | Aug 15, 2023, | Feb 15, 2024, | varying dates before and/or after the archery and general seasons |
| Muzzleloader | Dec 9, 2023, | Dec 17, 2023 | |
| Archery (backcountry) | Sept 3, 2023 | Sept 14, 2023 | |
| General (backcountry) | Sept 15, 2023 | Nov 14, 2023 | |
| Archery (backcountry) | Sept 3, 2023 | Sept 14, 2023 | Archery only |
Licensing & Draw License Fees
Purchasing the correct license is also vital to get the most out of the hunting season. Here’s a list of all the licenses and their prices:
| License Types | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Base Hunting License Fee | $10 | This is an annual fee and will be assessed when the hunter purchases or applies for their first hunting license. |
| Base Hunting License Fee | $15 | Nonresident Cost |
| Bow and Arrow (Archery) | $10 | Resident Cost |
| Bow and Arrow (Archery) | $10 | Nonresident Cost |
| Disabled Conservation License | $8 | |
| General Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk) | $1,108 | Quota of 17000 |
| General Deer Combo | $646 | |
| Landowner Sponsored Deer Combo Licenses | $683.50 | Quota of 2000 |
| Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk) | $591.50 | Quota of 500 |
| Deer Combo | $360.50 | Quota of 500 |
| Nonresident Native License | ||
| Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk) | $554 | Quota of Unlimited |
| Deer Combo | $323 | Quota of Unlimited |
| Nonresident Student Hunting License | ||
| Big Game Combo (Deer & Elk) | $554 | |
| Deer Combo | $323 | |
| Resident Youth Combination | $31 | |
| Nonresident Youth Combination | $554 $467 $323 | Quota of Unlimited |
What Weapons can you Hunt Deer Within Virginia?
Like purchasing the correct license, you also need to ensure that your weapons meet the minimum requirements of the state of Montana. Below are the specifications your weapons must meet to hunt with them legally.
Firearms:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Shotguns | Must be a minimum of 10 gauge. Loaded with single slugs. Barrel must be a minimum of 18 inches long. The minimum overall length must be 26 inches. |
| Centerfire rifle | 0.24 Caliber and up with a magnum load or centerfire cartridge. |
| Handguns | 43 caliber and down with a barrel no longer than four and a half inches. |
Bow and Arrow:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrows | Arrows must be 20 inches in length. |
| Broadheads | can be fixed with two blades and must be ⅞ inches wide at their widest point. The arrow should also have a minimum weight of 300 grams |
| Bow characteristics | LongBow, compound bow with a minimum draw weight for hunting deer is 40 lbs and a draw length of 28’. Recurve Bows’ minimum draw weight is 40 lbs. |
Crossbow:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Crossbow draw weight | Crossbows have a minimum draw weight of 125 lbs. and must be mechanically safe. Draw length must be a minimum of 14 inches. |
| Arrows/ bolts | The arrow/ bolt must be at least 16 inches, excluding the broad head. |
| Broadheads | It must be ⅞ inches at the widest point. |
Muzzleloading Rifle:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Powder | black powder or black powder substitute only. |
| Caliber | A single barrel of .45 caliber or greater. |
| Legal projectile | Muzzleloaders can be smoothbore or rifled. Must be a single barrel that fires a single round ball or conical projectile. |
| Ignition | Matchlock, flintlock ignition system, percussion ignition system with a primer or percussion cap, or a wheel-lock. |
What Types of Deer Are Popular in Montana?
Hunting deer in Montana is exciting and challenging for any hunter. You can hunt Elk, White-tailed, and Mule deer within its mountainous landscape. While the elk has more distinct features and is easier to identify, the Mule deer and White-tailed deer have similar features making them a little more challenging to distinguish.
Let’s look at how you can best identify these deer species:
Often found in open areas in western North America, the Mule deer is known for its large ears. It is grey-brownish with a rump patch bordered by a black line—their antlers branch and fork, resembling their ears. Keep an eye open for valleys and fields between the mountains. You might find them there.
White-tailed deer are medium-sized deer found throughout most of North America. They have a reddish-brown to greyish-brown coat and a distinctive white underside of the tail. Male deer have long antlers with multiple tines. They are active at dawn and dusk and can be found in various habitats, including forests and grasslands.
What Else is Popular to Hunt in Montana?
Montana provides hunters with exciting terrain to hunt for deer. However, many other species will give you just as much challenge and thrill. Here’s a list of all the animals you can hunt in Montana:
Big Game:
- Mule Deer
- White-tailed Deer
- Rocky Mountain Elk
- Moose
- Bighorn Sheep
- Mountain Goat
- Pronghorn Antelope
- Black Bear
- Mountain Lion (Cougar)
Upland Birds:
- Hungarian Partridge (Gray Partridge)
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ruffed Grouse
- Blue Grouse
- Sage Grouse
- Sharptail Grouse
- Spruce Grouse
- Wild Turkey
Waterfowl:
- Canada Goose
- Snow Goose
- Various duck species (e.g., Mallard, Pintail, Gadwall)
Small Game:
- Cottontail Rabbit
- Snowshoe Hare
- Red Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Prairie Dog
- Ground Squirrel (Richardson’s Ground Squirrel)
- Badger
- Coyote
Furbearers:
- Raccoon
- Beaver
- Muskrat
- Mink
- Skunk
- Bobcat
- Red Fox
- Gray Fox
- Coyote
While there are several animals you can hunt in Montana, remember that to hunt them legally, you have to purchase the correct licenses, hunt within their hunting seasons, and your weapons need to meet the legal specifications to hunt them. To learn more about hunting other species in Montana, check out the e-regulations document.