Montana
Big Sky Country. World-record bighorn rams, vast public river breaks, and backcountry wilderness elk.
Weapons & Regulations in Montana
Official Regulatory Authority
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
Centerfire Rifle
Centerfire rifles of expanding bullet design. While Montana does not mandate a statutory minimum caliber, FWP strongly recommends minimum .243 Win / 6mm for deer and pronghorn, and .270 Win, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, or .300 Win Mag with heavy bonded bullets for elk, moose, and bison. Suppressors are legal for all hunting take with valid federal tax stamp. FMJ bullets prohibited.
Muzzleloader
Single-barrel muzzleloaders .45 caliber or larger for deer, pronghorn, and sheep; minimum .50 caliber for elk, moose, and bear. Modern in-line muzzleloaders with 209 primers and optical scopes are legal during the general rifle season and the dedicated 9-day December Heritage Muzzleloader season (where traditional open sights and flintlock/percussion designs are featured in select heritage units).
Archery (Vertical Bow)
Compound, recurve, and longbows with minimum 28 lb draw weight. Broadheads must have at least two cutting edges and minimum 7/8-inch cutting width. Expanding mechanical heads are legal. All first-time bowhunters or those born after January 1, 1985 must show completion of an approved National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) course to purchase an archery stamp.
Crossbows
Permitted during the general big game firearms rifle season. Crossbows are strictly prohibited during the 6-week dedicated early archery season, even with a physician's disability statement (Montana law restricts the archery season exclusively to vertical bows drawn by muscle power). Minimum 130 lb draw weight with functioning safety.
Handguns
Centerfire handguns of .24 caliber or larger with expanding bullets are legal for big game hunting. Heavy magnum sidearms (.44 Magnum, .454 Casull, 10mm Auto) are strongly recommended for open carrying in grizzly bear habitat across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Northern Continental Divide, and Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Shotgun
12 and 20 gauge shotguns firing slugs are permitted in weapon-restricted suburban units and riverfront agricultural zones (such as GMUs near Missoula and Billings). Shotguns firing non-toxic shot are required for all waterfowl on federal and state wetlands, while lead birdshot is legal for mountain forest grouse and upland game birds.