Montana Black Bear

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MONTANA STATE PAGE

Dates & Fees | Montana Black Bear Hunting

Deer & Elk: April 1, 2025
Sheep, Moose, Mtn Goat, & Bison: May 1, 2025
Antelope: June 1, 2025
Alternate List Signup: June 30, 2025
Super Tags: June 30, 2025
Mtn Lion: July 24, 2025
Bonus Points: Sept 30, 2025
Preference Points: Dec 31, 2025

UP-FRONT FEES
Base Hunting & Conservation Licenses $25.00
Sheep, Moose, Goat, and Bison Application Fee $50.00
Bonus Points (Optional/Per Species) $20.00
Preference Point Only (For Combo Licenses) $100.00
Outfitter Preference Point Only (For Combo Licenses) $100.00
Big Game Combination License (Elk & Deer)* $1,315.50
Elk Combination License* $1,115.50
Deer Combination License* $781.50
Youth Big Game Combination License* $671.50
Youth Elk Combination License* $571.50
Youth Deer Combination License* $404.50
Antelope (Includes the $5 Application Fee) $205.00
Special Elk Permit Application $9.00
Special Deer Permit Application $5.00
Bow and Arrow License (Mandatory for All Archery Hunts) $10.00
*All Combination License prices include required Base Hunting License, Conservation License, Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, and Application Fees
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Bighorn Sheep License $1,250.00
Moose License $1,250.00
Mountain Goat License $1,250.00
Bison License $1,250.00
Wolf License $50.00
Wolf License (If You Draw a Combination License) $25.00

UP-FRONT FEES
Base Hunting & Conservation Licenses $18.00
Sheep, Moose, Goat, and Bison Application Fee $10.00
Bonus Points (Sheep, Moose, Mountain Goat) $75.00
Bonus Points (Elk, Deer, Antelope) $25.00
 General Deer License $16.00
Deer B License $10.00
Youth General Deer License $8.00
General Elk License $20.00
Elk B License $20.00
Youth General Elk License $10.00
Antelope (Includes the $5 Application Fee) $19.00
Bow and Arrow License (Mandatory for All Archery Hunts) $10.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Bighorn Sheep License $125.00
Moose License $125.00
Mountain Goat License $125.00
Bison License $125.00
Wolf License $10.00

MONTANA ELK SEASON DATES
Archery Sep 6 – Oct 19, 2025
Rifle Oct 25 – Nov 30, 2025
Backcountry (HDs 150, 280, 316) Sep 15 – Nov 30, 2025
MONTANA DEER SEASON DATES
Archery Sep 6 – Oct 19, 2025
Rifle Oct 25 – Nov 30, 2025
Backcountry (HDs 150, 280, 316) Sep 15 – Nov 30, 2025 (Archery Sep 6 – Sep 14)
Youth Hunt Oct 16 – 17, 2025
MONTANA ANTELOPE SEASON DATES
Archery Sep 6 – Oct 10, 2025
Archery (900) Aug 15 - Nov 9, 2025
Rifle Oct 11 – Nov 9, 2025
MONTANA BISON SEASON DATES
Any Weapon Sep, 2025 - Feb 2026 (varies by unit)
MONTANA MOOSE SEASON DATES
Controlled Hunts District-specific; generally Sep 15 – Nov 29
MONTANA BIGHORN SHEEP SEASON DATES
Archery Sep 6 - Sep 14 (varies by unit)
Any Weapon Sep 15 - Nov 30 (varies by unit)
MONTANA MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASON DATES
Archery Sep 6 - Sep 14 (varies by unit)
Any Weapon Sep 1 - Nov 30 (varies by unit)
MONTANA WOLF SEASON DATES
Archery Sep 6 – Sep 14, 2025
General Sep 15, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026
Trapping Date is dependent on location
MONTANA BLACK BEAR SEASON DATES
Spring Apr 15 – June 15, 2025
Fall Sep 15 – Nov 30, 2025

Disclaimer: Dates vary by hunting district (HD) and may change through emergency regulations. Always confirm with Montana FWP before planning your hunt: : https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt

YEAR ELK & DEER MOOSE, MTN GOAT, SHEEP & BISON ANTELOPE 900-20 & B LICENSES RIFLE ANTELOPE / SUPER TAGS
2025 April 15, 3:05 p.m. May 7, 2:20 p.m. June 13  
2024 April 15, 3:38 p.m. May 8, 3:00 p.m. June 17 Early August
2023 April 17, 3:08 p.m. May 12, 3:50 p.m. June 14 Aug 8
2022 April 14, 1:14 p.m. May 10, 10:00 a.m. June 13  
2021 April 14, 11:00 a.m. May 11, 9:44 a.m. June 18  
2020 April 14, 4:00 p.m. May 11, 9:45 a.m. June 15 August 6
ANNUAL       Mid-July (Super Tags)

1420 East Sixth Avenue • PO Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
ph. 406-444-2535

 

APPLY

Montana Black Bear Hunting 2025

In true Montana fashion, there is a huge opportunity to hunt black bears. A hunter may purchase only one black bear license per year. A free Black Bear Identification Test Certificate is required to obtain a license. The spring season starts in the middle of April and goes until the middle of June. There will be an archery-only season the first part of September as well as a fall bear season that goes from the middle of September until the first of December. Beyond the season structure, there are options that vary not only from region to region but bear management unit to bear management unit. The biggest variation is during hound hunting season, as a rule of thumb, as it’s only during spring season, but beyond that, you will have to check each unit in the regulations to see if hound hunting is available.

Guided Hunts - Featured Montana Black Bear Hunting

Alaska Peninsula Coast
HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear
Cost: $ 29,500.00
Location: Alaska, United States
New Mexico Unit 36
HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk
Cost: $ 8,000.00
Location: New Mexico, United States
All-Inclusive Guided Stone
HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep
Cost: $ 89,250.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Trophy Canadian Moose
HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose
Cost: $ 9,800.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Wyoming Antelope Hunt
HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope
Cost: $ 4,500.00
Location: Wyoming, United States
Montana Mountain Lion
HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion
Cost: $ 6,800.00
Location: Montana, United States
Idaho Trophy Mule Deer
HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer
Cost: $ 5,900.00
Location: Idaho, United States
SEARCH ALL HUNTS
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Podcasts with our Advisors on Montana Hunting and Application Strategy

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2025 Montana Bear Season Dates

MONTANA BLACK BEAR HUNTS 2025 DATES
Spring Apr 15 – June 15, 2025
Fall Sep 15 – Nov 30, 2025

Disclaimer: Some districts require harvest check/bait/hound rules; dates may change. Verify with Montana FWP: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations.

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