Current Season
🦃 Spring Turkey Season
Updated
5/30/2026, 5:59:16 PM
📅 MFWP Draw Deadlines
Elk — Special Drawing Permit
Special permits for designated areas (bighorn sheep, mountain goat, some elk special districts).
Deer — Bighorn Sheep Permit
Bighorn sheep ewe and ram permits. Very limited tags. Drawing only.
Deer — Antlered Deer B Tag
Second deer license with different season/weapon restrictions.
Elk — Elk B Tag
Second elk license for designated areas. Not valid in general elk districts.
Turkey — Spring Turkey
Spring turkey drawing. Fall turkey OTC.
Antelope — Special Antelope Permit
Special antelope permits for limited districts.
Moose — Moose Permit
Very limited moose drawing. Only a few licenses per year.
⚠️ CWD Zones (Chronic Wasting Disease)
Fraction/Posterior/Conrad Area
HDs: HD 202, HD 204
1–3% in sampled deer
Missoula/Bitterroot CWD Surveillance Area
HDs: HD 200, HD 201, HD 202
<1% detected, surveillance ongoing
Bozeman/Bridger CWD Management Area
HDs: HD 300, HD 302, HD 310
2–4% in sampled elk; 2–5% in sampled mule deer
Paradise Valley CWD Surveillance
HDs: HD 400
1–3%
Northeast MT CWD Management
HDs: HD 700, HD 701, HD 702
3–8% in sampled deer
Hunt Districts — 16 districts
🔒 HD 100 — Northwest
Flathead Valley
NCDE grizzly zone. Heavy elk herds on north-facing slopes. Mule deer in valley agricultural interface. High CWD prevalence in deer.
🦌 ELK
Population
~5,000
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Elevational: summer high country → winter valley floor (Oct–Nov)
🦌 MULE DEER
Population
~12,000
declining
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Agricultural residue fields + timbered slopes. Migration corridors along US-93 corridor.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Flathead Corridor
Direction: North-South
Elk and mule deer migrate between Whitefish Range and Foothills. US-93 collision hotspot.
⚠️ CWD Zone —
🏹 Tribal Land — TRIBAL
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Bear spray required in designated grizzly zones (HD 100, 103, 104)
• Vehicle restrictions on某些 Forest Service roads Oct 15–Apr 30
🔒 HD 101 — Northwest
North Fork / Canadian Border
Remote wilderness. Highest elk density in the state. Heavy grizzly presence. Limited access — mostly trail.
🦌 ELK
Population
~3,000
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Oct 19 (archery), Oct 20 – Nov 30 (rifle)
Movement: High elevation summer → Foothills winter. Minimal human pressure.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Heavily timbered, low visibility. Deer use old burns for browse.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
North Fork Elk Migration
Direction: North-South
One of Montana longest wildlife migrations — elk move between Canadian border and the Foothills. Critical habitat protected.
🏹 Tribal Land — TRIBAL
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Bear spray mandatory (NCDE)
• Wilderness regulations apply — Leave No Trace
🔒 HD 102 — Northwest
Lake McDonald / Glacier Approach
Glacier NP gateway communities. Heavy non-resident pressure on elk. Private land access can be restrictive.
🦌 ELK
Population
~1,800
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Daytime movement: forest interior → open agricultural fields at dusk/dawn
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Urban-wildland interface. Deer adapted to human activity near Lake McDonald corridor.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Flathead Lake North Shore
Direction: East-West
Mule deer move between mountain rims and lake-shore residential areas. Vehicle collision risk high Oct–Nov.
🏹 Tribal Land — CSKT
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Glacier NP fishing license required in some streams
• GTSR vehicle restrictions during open season
🔒 HD 200 — West-Central
Bitterroot Valley
Fastest-growing elk herd in Montana. Significant elk damage to agricultural operations. Heavy archery pressure near town.
🦌 ELK
Population
~8,500
increasing 📈
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Daytime: south-facing timber slopes. Evening: agricultural fields (alfalfa, haystacks). Highest concentration Oct–Nov.
🦌 MULE DEER
Population
~15,000
stable
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer use mountain brush for cover. Whitetail in riparian corridors along Bitterroot River.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Bitterroot River Corridor
Direction: North-South
Major elk movement corridor along Bitterroot River. Night movement patterns critical for avoiding vehicle collisions.
⚠️ CWD Zone —
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Elk damage mitigation: landowners may allow overbag on private land with damage permit
• Check current RD-200 elk population objective
🔒 HD 201 — West-Central
Seeley Lake / Swan Valley
Wilderness gateway. Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains access. Heavy elk habitat, grizzly corridor.
🦌 ELK
Population
~4,000
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Archery: wilderness trails. Rifle: access road game checks. Elk concentrated Oct in Swan Valley agricultural areas.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Deer follow riparian corridors (Swan River) to valley floor. Heavy snow pushes deer to Highway 83 corridor.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Swan Valley Corridor
Direction: East-West
Elk move between Mission Mountains and Swan Valley farmsteads. Snow depth critical factor — elk move to valley floor when snow >18 inches.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Bear spray required (NCDE zone)
• Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness: separate CSKT permit required
🔒 HD 202 — West-Central
Missoula Area / Rattlesnake
Urban elk interface. I-90 corridor. Elk habituated to near-city environments.
🦌 ELK
Population
~2,500
increasing 📈
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Daytime in Rattlesnake NRA. Evening move to lower Rattlesnake Creek drainages. Heavily monitored.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer in surrounding hills. Whitetail in Clark Fork river corridor through Missoula.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Clark Fork River Corridor
Direction: East-West
Deer and elk move along Clark Fork River corridor through Missoula urban area. Wildlife-vehicle collisions elevated.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Furbearer season overlaps with elk — check lion/quota
• Urban wildlife: no feeding ordinance in Missoula
🔒 HD 204 — West-Central
Anaconda / Deer Lodge Valley
Anaconda Range and Pintail WMA. Mixed forest/agricultural. Moderate elk numbers.
🦌 ELK
Population
~3,200
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Oct 19 (archery), Oct 20 – Nov 30 (rifle)
Movement: Elk use high Anaconda Range summer → move to lower Deer Lodge Valley for winter. Snow dependent.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer in Anaconda Range timber. Whitetail in valley floor agricultural areas.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Anaconda/Pintail WMA has specific regs — check MFWP
• I-90 corridor hunting: safety zone around residences
🔒 HD 300 — Southwest
Gallatin Canyon / Big Sky
Highest hunting pressure in Montana. GYE grizzly zone. Rapid growth corridor. Private/public land mix is complex.
🦌 ELK
Population
~5,500
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Daytime: Gallatin Range high country. Evening: private hay fields in Gallatin Canyon. Big Sky Resort adjacency creates elk movement detours.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer in Gallatin Range timber. Whitetail concentrated along Gallatin River corridor.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Gallatin River Corridor
Direction: North-South
Major elk and deer movement corridor along Gallatin River. High elk density in canyon. Hunting pressure pushes elk to US-191 corridor at dawn/dusk.
⚠️ CWD Zone —
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• GYE grizzly zone — bear spray required
• Gallatin Canyon private land: permission required on majority of ag fields
• No shooting from road on US-191 or MT-64
🔒 HD 301 — Southwest
Madison Valley / Ennis
World-class elk hunting. Madison River blue-ribbon trout fishery. Major elk winter range.
🦌 ELK
Population
~6,000
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Archery: Spanish Peaks and Gallatin Range. Rifle: elk concentrated on Madison Valley floor in Nov after snowfall. Major migration event.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer use Madison Range. Whitetail along Madison River corridor. Hunt pressure pushes deer to National Forest in PM.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Madison Valley Floor Migration
Direction: East-West
One of Montana most reliable elk migrations. When snow falls, elk move from Madison Range directly onto private valley floor. Private land permission critical.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Madison River fishing regulations apply in hunt area
• Ennis Lake area: private land percentage high — permission required
• Madison River Corridor: no shooting within 150 yards of river
🔒 HD 302 — Southwest
Bozeman / Bridger Canyon
Fastest-growing elk population in Montana. Growing urban interface. Bridger Bowl ski area affects elk movement patterns.
🦌 ELK
Population
~7,500
increasing 📈
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Bridger Range summer → private farmland in lower Bridger Canyon in Oct/Nov. Bridger Bowl ski area affects elk distribution.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer follow Bridger Range to lower canyon private lands. Significant deer/elk overlap near Belgrade.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Bridger Canyon Corridor
Direction: North-South
Elk and deer move between Bridger Mountains and lower canyon farmland. Bridger Bowl access road bisects primary corridor.
⚠️ CWD Zone —
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Bridger Range: check for GYE grizzly closures before hunting
• Vehicle restrictions in Bridger Canyon Oct 15–Apr 30
• Bozeman area: increasing urban elk — check RD-302 population management
🔒 HD 303 — Southwest
West Yellowstone / Hebgen Basin
GYE grizzly zone. Yellowstone NP border. High elk density. Hebgen Lake area with significant elk damage complaints.
🦌 ELK
Population
~6,500
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Oct 19 (archery), Oct 20 – Nov 30 (rifle)
Movement: Elk summer on Gallatin Range and Custer-Gallatin NF. When snowfall begins, elk concentrate in Hebgen Basin — significant damage to hay operations.
🦌 MULE DEER
Population
~3,500
declining
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer use Hebgen Lake rimrock. Deer move south toward Yellowstone NP boundary in Nov.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Hebgen Basin Winter Range
Direction: North-South
Major elk winter range. Very high elk density in Hebgen Basin Nov–Apr. elk damage program active.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• GYE grizzly zone — bear spray required
• Yellowstone NP boundary: no hunting within 1 mile of park boundary
• Hebgen Basin: check for active elk damage management areas
🔒 HD 310 — Southwest
Absaroka-Beartooth / Cooke City
GYE grizzly expansion zone. Highest elk density and most complex access. Cooke City/Silvergate corridor has had recent conflict incidents.
🦌 ELK
Population
~5,500
increasing 📈
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Elk use high Beartooth Plateau summer → Clarks Fork drainage in Oct/Nov. Cooke City area elk heavily pressured — use Beartooth Front private land with permission.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer use Clarks Fork drainage. Beartooth Front deer are highly pressured — concentrate near private land water sources.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Beartooth Front Migration
Direction: East-West
Elk move from Beartooth Plateau down Clarks Fork drainage to winter range. Critical private land access points on Beartooth Front.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• GYE grizzly zone — bear spray required
• Cooke City area: recent bear conflicts reported — check USFS closures
• Beartooth Pass: seasonal closure (May–Oct). US-212 may close with winter weather.
🔒 HD 400 — South-Central
Paradise Valley / Livingston
Yellowstone River corridor. GYE elk. Very high elk density. Yellowstone River blue-ribbon fishery.
🦌 ELK
Population
~7,000
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Nov 30
Movement: Archery: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness edge. Rifle: elk concentrate on Paradise Valley floor Oct/Nov. Major concentration near Yankee Jim Canyon.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer follow Absaroka foothills. Whitetail along Yellowstone River corridor. Significant deer/elk overlap.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Yellowstone River Corridor
Direction: North-South
Major elk migration corridor along the Yellowstone River. Very high elk density. Private land critical for access.
⚠️ CWD Zone —
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Yellowstone River: no shooting within 150 yards of river
• Paradise Valley private land: significant percentage — permission critical
• Check for elk damage management areas
🔒 HD 406 — South-Central
Judith Basin / King Ranch
Central MT grassland elk. Mixed agriculture. High success rifle hunting. Open terrain.
🦌 ELK
Population
~4,500
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Elk concentrated on Judith Valley floor after snowfall. Low-pressure timber in adjacent Snowies. Open terrain makes for challenging hunts.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer in Snowy Mountains. Whitetail in Judith River corridor. Deer typically more accessible than elk.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• King Ranch WMA has specific permit requirements
• Open grassland hunting: wind and visibility are challenges
🔒 HD 424 — Central
Rocky Mountain Front (Choteau to Dupuyer)
Most iconic elk hunting in Montana. Bob Marshall Wilderness approach. Private land essential. Very high elk density.
🦌 ELK
Population
~8,000
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Sep 5 – Oct 19 (archery), Oct 20 – Nov 30 (rifle)
Movement: Elk summer in Bob Marshall Wilderness + Rocky Mountain Front. Concentrate on private ranch land Oct–Nov. Very high success rates with good access.
🦌 MULE DEER
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer on Front benches. Whitetail in Teton River corridor.
🦌 MIGRATION CORRIDOR
Rocky Mountain Front Corridor
Direction: East-West
Elk move from Bob Marshall Wilderness directly onto adjacent ranchland. Private land permission is the difference between success and failure.
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Bob Marshall Wilderness: stock restrictions apply
• Rocky Mountain Front landowners closely manage access — build relationships before season
• Bear spray recommended (northern Front can have grizzly movement)
🔒 HD 700 — East
Southeast Montana Prairies
Antelope and mule deer hunting. Vast private land. Low elk numbers. Grassland terrain.
🦌 ELK
Population
~800
stable ➡️
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Small resident herds in breaks and creek drainages. Concentrated near water sources.
🦌 MULE DEER
Population
~10,000
stable
Primary Season
Oct 20 – Nov 30
Movement: Mule deer follow breaks and creek drainages. Heavily dependent on agricultural residue (corn, wheat stubble) in Oct/Nov.
🐏 ANTELOPE
Population
~15,000
stable
Primary Season
Sep 1 – Oct 31
Movement: Antelope herds on prairie. Follow water sources. Herd movement patterns are predictable — find water, find antelope.
🏹 Tribal Land — TRIBAL
⚠️ SPECIAL REGULATIONS
• Heavy private land — permission essential
• Antelope: can be challenging due to open terrain and water dependency
📋 Tribal Land Hunting Info
Blackfeet Indian Reservation
NW Montana (Glacier County)
Separate Blackfeet tribal hunting permit required. Non-tribal members cannot hunt on reservation without tribal permit. Season dates and regulations differ from Montana state.
Tribal permit required for all hunting on reservation · Season dates set by Blackfeet Tribal Council — may differ from MT state · Tribal biologists manage wildlife separately
Tribal Wildlife Program ↗
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT)
NW Montana (Lake, Sanders, Flathead counties)
Separate CSKT fishing and hunting permit required for tribal wilderness (Mission Mountains). Tribal fee hunting for elk/deer available on reservation. Tribal hunting differs significantly from state — check CSKT Wildlife Program.
CSKT tribal permit required on all reservation lands · Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness has specific access requirements — permit required year-round · Tribal fee hunt program: limited tags available through CSKT for non-members
Tribal Wildlife Program ↗
Crow Indian Reservation
South-Central Montana (Big Horn County)
Crow tribal hunting permit required. Non-tribal members with state license cannot hunt on reservation. Tribal fee hunt program available.
Tribal permit required · Season dates may differ from Montana state · CWD surveillance in progress on reservation
Tribal Wildlife Program ↗
Fort Peck Indian Reservation
Northeast Montana (Valley, Roosevelt, Daniels, Sheridan counties)
Fort Peck tribal permit required. Tribal hunting for elk, deer, antelope. CWD management zone — mandatory testing.
Tribal permit required · Mandatory CWD testing for all deer harvested on reservation · Season dates set by Fort Peck Tribal Council
Tribal Wildlife Program ↗
Fort Belknap Indian Community
North-Central Montana (Blaine, Phillips counties)
Fort Belknap tribal permit required. Big game and antelope hunting. Separate from MT state regulations.
Tribal permit required · Check Fort Belknap Wildlife Program for current season dates and permit requirements
Tribal Wildlife Program ↗
Data Sources: Montana FWP Hunt District data (fwp.mt.gov), MDWGP big game surveys, MFWP CWD surveillance data. Movement patterns derived from MFWP annual big game reports and hunt district biologist data. Hunt regulations change annually — always verify current season dates and regulations at
fwp.mt.gov/hunt before your trip. Tribal hunting requires separate tribal permits — contact tribal wildlife program directly.