Montana Bison Hunting 2025

Application Deadlines Non-Resident Fees Resident Fees Big Game Season Dates Draw Result Dates State Contact Information

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)

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks

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

APPLY

Montana’s non-resident bison hunts allow hunters the chance to harvest a bison as they migrate out of Yellowstone National Park. Montana has two bison migration hunts. Unit 385-20 is on the northern border of Yellowstone National Park near the town of Gardiner, and unit 395-20 is located on the western side of the park near the town of West Yellowstone. Season dates for these hunts will be November 15, 2025–February 15, 2026.

With a combination of mild weather and a lack of good snowfall, most of the herd will stay safely within the confines of the park’s boundaries for the entire hunting season. Aside from the cold weather and heavy snowfall in the winter of 2022-23, this has been the case since the 2017-2018 hunting season. In 2024, only one of the 25 bison permit hunters took a bison on the West Yellowstone hunt and none of the 40 Gardiner hunters were able to catch a bison outside of the park boundary.

HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear

Cost: $ 29,500.00

Location: Alaska, United States

HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk

Cost: $ 8,000.00

Location: New Mexico, United States

HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep

Cost: $ 89,250.00

Location: British Columbia, Canada

HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose

Cost: $ 9,800.00

Location: British Columbia, Canada

HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope

Cost: $ 4,500.00

Location: Wyoming, United States

HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion

Cost: $ 6,800.00

Location: Montana, United States

HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer

Cost: $ 5,900.00

Location: Idaho, United States

MONTANA BISON HUNTS	2025–2026 DATES
Any Weapon	Sep, 2025 - Feb 2026 (varies by unit)

Disclaimer: District-specific controlled hunts; dates set by permits and may change. Verify with Montana FWP: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations.

There is no point system for Montana bison, so your odds are the same as all other applicants. Keep in mind that there will be a lot of Native American tribes from across several of the western states that have traditional hunting rights and will be hunting if bison are coming out of the park. It can’t be overstated how many hunters come away disappointed from their Montana bison hunt every year. These can be extremely frustrating hunts, but if you want to hunt Boone and Crockett eligible bison, Montana is one of only a handful of states that offers the opportunity to do so.

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Dates & Fees | Montana Bison Hunting