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2017 Montana Hunting Seasons

A tradition for many families, hunting is an exciting escape into nature. Your reward of patiently waiting in a tree stand or hunting blind is the satisfaction of taking responsibility for your own food, or finally bagging that trophy buck. Discount Ramps has all the hunting dates for Montana, and the necessary hunting equipment to ensure a successful year.

This is a general guide to season dates. Dates are subject to change. For more information, visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks website.

Antelope

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
900 Series Aug. 15 Nov. 12
Archery Sep. 2 Oct. 6
General Oct. 7 Nov. 12

Beaver

Districts First Day Last Day
Western & Southwestern Districts 1, 2, & 3 Nov. 1 Apr. 15
Central & Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6, & 7 Sep. 1 May. 31

Bighorn Sheep

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Archery Sep. 2 Sep. 14
General Sep. 15 Nov. 26

Bison

First Day Last Day
Nov. 15 Feb. 15

Black Bear

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Spring Apr. 15 Varies: May 31 to June 15
Archery Sep. 2 Sep. 14
Fall Sep. 15 Nov. 26

Bobcat

Bobcat seasons my close earlier when the quota is reached

Districts First Day Last Day
Western & Southwestern Districts 1, 2, & 3 Dec. 1 Feb. 15
Central & Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6, & 7 Dec. 1 Mar. 1

Common Snipe

Central Flyway

First Day Last Day
Sep. 1 Dec. 16

Pacific Flyway

First Day Last Day
Sep. 1 Dec. 16

Deer & Elk

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Archery Sep. 2 Oct. 15
Two-Day Youth Hunt (Deer Only) Oct. 19 Oct. 20
General Oct. 21 Nov. 26
Backcountry (HD's 150, 151, 280, 316)
Archery Sep. 2 Sep. 14
General Sep. 15 Nov. 26
Elk Shoulder Seasons
Varying dates before and/or after archery/general season

Duck & Coot

Central Flyway

Hunt Type Zone First Day Last Day
Duck & Coot Zone 1 Sep. 30 Jan. 5
Duck & Coot Zone 2 Sep. 30 Oct. 9
Duck & Coot Zone 2 Oct. 22 Jan. 17
Falconry Zone 1 Sep. 21 Jan. 5
Falconry Zone 2 Sep. 21 Oct. 9
Falconry Zone 2 Oct. 22 Jan. 17
Youth Weekend   Sep. 24 Sep. 25

Pacific Flyway

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Duck & Coot & Falconry Sep. 30 Jan. 8
Duck & Coot & Falconry Jan. 14 Jan. 18
Scaup Sep. 30 Dec. 25
Youth Weekend Sep. 23 Sep. 24

Fisher

Fisher seasons my close earlier when the quota is reached

Districts First Day Last Day
Districts 1 & 2 Dec. 1 Feb. 15

Goose

Central Flyway

Hunt Type Zone First Day Last Day
Geese & Falconry Zone 1 Sep. 30 Jan. 8
Geese & Falconry Zone 1 Jan. 14 Jan. 18
Geese & Falconry Zone 2 Sep. 30 Oct. 9
Geese & Falconry Zone 2 Oct. 22 Jan. 25
Youth Weekend   Sep. 24 Sep. 25

Pacific Flyway

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Geese & Falconry Sep. 30 Jan. 8
Geese & Falconry Jan. 14 Jan. 18
Youth Weekend Sep. 23 Sep. 24

Grouse

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Mountain Grouse Sep. 1 Jan. 1
Sage Grouse Sep. 1 Sep. 30
Sharp-tailed Grouse Sep. 1 Jan. 1

Marten

Districts First Day Last Day
Districts 1-5 Dec. 1 Feb. 15

Moose

First Day Last Day
Sep. 15 Nov. 26

Mourning Dove

Central Flyway

First Day Last Day
Sep. 1 Oct. 30

Pacific Flyway

First Day Last Day
Sep. 1 Oct. 30

Mountain Goat

First Day Last Day
Sep. 15 Nov. 26

Mountain Lion

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Archery (without hounds) Sep. 2 Oct. 15
Fall (without hounds) Oct. 21 Nov. 26
Winter (with hounds) Dec. 1, 2017 Apr. 14, 2018
Late Winter (with hounds) Feb. 1, 2018 Apr. 14, 2018
Hound Training Seasons (residents only) Dec. 2, 2017 Apr. 14, 2018

Otter, Mink & Muskrat

Otter seasons may close earlier when the quota is reached.

First Day Last Day
Nov. 1 Apr. 15

Partridge

First Day Last Day
Sep. 1 Jan. 1

Pheasant

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
General Oct. 8 Jan. 1
Youth Sep. 23 Sep. 24

Sandhill Crane

Permit Type Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Over-the-Counter For mid-continent Sandhill Crane populations Sep. 30 Nov. 27
Special Permits For Rocky Mountain populations Sep. 10 Oct. 2

Swan

Central Flyway

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Tundra Swan (permits only) Sep. 30 Jan. 5

Pacific Flyway

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Swan (permits only) Oct. 8 Dec. 1

Swift Fox

Swift Fox seasons may close earlier when the quota is reached.

District First Day Last Day
District 6 Nov. 1 Mar. 1

Turkey

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Spring Apr. 8 May. 21
Fall Sep. 1 Jan. 1

Upland Game Bird

Grouse

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Mountain Grouse Sep. 1 Jan. 1
Sage Grouse Sep. 1 Sep. 30
Sharp-tailed Grouse Sep. 1 Jan. 1

Partridge

First Day Last Day
Sep. 1 Jan. 1

Pheasant

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
General Oct. 8 Jan. 1
Youth Sep. 23 Sep. 24

Turkey

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Spring Apr. 8 May 21
Fall Sep. 1 Jan. 1

Wolf

Hunt Type First Day Last Day
Archery Sep. 2 Sep. 14
General Season Rifle Sep. 15 Mar. 15, 2018
Trapping Dec. 15 Feb. 28, 2018

Wolverine

Notice
The 2017/2018 Wolverine trapping season will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

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