2020 Hunting Regulations
By angelamontana

Posted: February 28, 2020

2020 Hunting Regulations

Deer, Elk, Antelope, Black Bear, and Moose, Sheep, and Goat hunting regulations are available online.

The regulations were finalized by the Fish & Wildlife Commission on Feb. 13. Printed copies will be available at all license providers and FWP offices in a couple of weeks.

A few things to look for in this year’s regulations:

  • Elk shoulder seasons have changed, depending on the hunting district. While they’re still in place in many hunting districts around the state, the Commission looked to apply them more specifically depending on hunting district and region. If you’re interested in participating in shoulder seasons this year, please pay close attention to the hunting district specific regulations and license requirements. Some may require a special application.
  • CWD information in this year’s regulation is more general than in years’ past but includes very good information for hunters. This is due to the reality that as FWP continues to sample deer, elk and moose across the state, the specifics about its presence continues to change. More information will be available later this summer prior to hunting season. The most current information can always be found online at fwp.mt.gov/cwd

During the past two years, FWP has worked to simplify the hunting regulations. These changes should make the regulations easier to read and understand. Additionally, information will be simpler to find with a convenient table of contents.

To see this year’s regulations, go online to fwp.mt.gov and click on “hunting” and then on “regulations or click here.”

Reminder:

2020 hunting and fishing licenses go on sale March 1.

  • Applications will now be done online or in person at an FWP office, general licenses can still be purchased at all license providers.
  • Hunters can apply for all special (limited draw) licenses and permits beginning March 1. That means deer, elk, antelope, moose, sheep, goat, bison and your B licenses.
  • Drawings will be completed two weeks after the deadlines, except for antelope, which will be drawn after biologist conduct summer monitoring flights.
  • The deer and elk permit deadline is April 1. The moose, bison, sheep and goat deadline is May 1. The antelope, elk and deer B license deadline is June 1.
  • You can keep an electronic version of your licenses on your smart phone. The only thing you legally need to have printed and in your possession is your carcass tag, which still needs to be validated and attached to the carcass.
  • All licenses and carcass tags will be printed on regular 8.5 x 11 paper. Reminder: FWP recommends all carcass tags to be kept in a small Ziploc-type plastic bag.
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