Realtree's Spring Thunder crew chases Merriam's turkeys in Black Hills country — here's what Montana hunters can take from it for a DIY public land spring hunt.

Montana’s spring gobbler season opens April 15, 2026 in most districts—and the hunters who tag out usually aren’t winging it on opening morning. Use mid-March to locate winter flocks, mark roosts, identify strut zones, and dial in your calling plan so you’re ready when the woods light up with gobbling.