Montana’s deer licensing has three layers: a general deer license for one deer, permits that open certain limited hunts, and B licenses for extra antlerless deer. Most hunters only need the first. Here’s what each one does and when it’s worth adding the others.
The general deer license
- Residents buy it over the counter for $16 in 2026 ($8 for youth 12–17 and residents 62 and older).
- Nonresidents get it by drawing a Deer Combination, Big Game Combination, or Landowner-Sponsored Deer Combination.
The general deer license is good for one deer. Each hunting district lists what that license allows there under a “General Deer License” heading. Common examples include:
- An antlered buck of either species
- An antlered whitetail buck, but mule deer bucks only with a permit
- Either-sex whitetail in some farm-country districts
Always read the district line before you hunt. Two districts next to each other can have very different rules.
Mule deer permits
Some districts limit buck mule deer hunting to permit holders. These districts often hold older bucks because fewer are taken each year.
- You apply by April 1 with a $5 nonrefundable fee.
- Nonresidents must apply for a combination license at the same time.
- A permit is used with your general deer license. It doesn’t add a second deer.
- If you draw a mule deer buck permit, you can only take a buck mule deer in the district or portion printed on it, even if buck mule deer are open elsewhere on a general license.
- Permits use squared bonus points. Popular districts can take years to draw.
If you don’t want to wait, plenty of districts allow buck mule deer on the general license.
Deer B licenses
Deer B licenses are for antlerless deer, usually whitetail does, and each one is an extra deer on top of your general license.
| Type (2026) | Nonresident | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Deer B by drawing (June 1 deadline) | $80 | $15 |
| Deer B over the counter, where available | $75 | $10 |
| Antlerless whitetail B, valid in one region you choose | Sold over the counter | Sold over the counter |
Many B licenses are for private land or specific portions of districts, so line up access before you buy. In whitetail country, B licenses are a cheap way to add meat to a buck hunt.
Youth hunt
Youth hunters ages 10–15 get a two-day statewide deer hunt on October 15–16, 2026, before the general season opens. An adult 18 or older must go along.
How to choose
| General license only | General + mule deer permit | General + Deer B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer you can take | One, per district rules | One buck mule deer, in the permit district | One general deer plus antlerless |
| Draw needed | Combination draw (nonresidents) | Combination + permit draw | Combination draw, plus a June draw or over-the-counter B |
| Best for | Most hunters | Older mule deer bucks | Whitetail and meat hunters |
Tips for a general license hunt
- Mule deer: Look at eastern and central Montana’s prairie and breaks country, where there is a lot of BLM and state land. Glass from high points at first and last light.
- Whitetails: Focus on river bottoms and the edges of crop fields. Late November, during the rut, is prime time.
- Block Management: FWP’s program opens private land to free public hunting. Many areas need a reservation or a sign-in, so plan ahead.
- State land: Montana state trust lands are generally open to hunting with the proper license, but access can require crossing private land. Check before you go.
Hunt with a local guide
Find Montana deer outfitters
Outfitters list which districts they hunt and whether they guide mule deer, whitetails, or both.
Related: How Montana draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Montana Deer Hunting Guide · How to apply for the deer draw · Deer season dates
License rules are from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for 2026. District rules change every year, so check the current FWP regulations before you hunt.