Montana has elk almost everywhere there are mountains, plus the famous Missouri River Breaks out on the prairie. It also has one of the longest general rifle seasons in the West, five weeks running from late October to the end of November, and a general elk license that is good across most of the state.
For nonresidents, it all starts with one draw. This guide walks you through the pieces, then links to deeper guides for each step.
Ready to book?
Browse Montana elk outfitters on Horn & Fin
Compare guides and outfitters that run elk hunts in Montana, read reviews, and contact them directly.
Montana elk hunting at a glance
| Where to apply | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), online at fwp.mt.gov or at FWP offices and license agents |
| Combination license and elk permit applications | Open March 1. The 2026 deadline was April 1 at 11:45 p.m. MST |
| Results | Mid-April |
| Elk B (antlerless) license drawing | Deadline June 1, results mid-June |
| Nonresident elk license | $1,112 Elk Combination or $1,312 Big Game Combination (2026), plus $60 in prerequisite licenses |
| Resident elk license | $20 general elk license (2026) |
| 2026 seasons | Archery September 5 – October 18. General October 24 – November 29 |
Fees and dates are from FWP for the 2026 season. The 2027 numbers have not been released, so confirm them before you apply.
Step 1: Draw a combination license
Nonresidents can’t buy a general elk license over the counter. You get one by drawing either an Elk Combination (elk, upland bird, and fishing) or a Big Game Combination (adds a general deer license). Seventy-five percent of these licenses go to applicants with preference points and 25% are drawn at random.
Read our step-by-step guide to the Montana elk draw
Step 2: Decide general elk or a permit
Your general elk license is good in every hunting district open to general elk hunting. Some districts, or certain seasons within them, also require a special elk permit that you apply for at the same time. Permits use bonus points, and the best take many years.
Learn how the general elk license and permits work
Step 3: Pick your season
Montana’s archery season runs through the September rut and well into October. The five-week general season starts in late October. A few backcountry wilderness districts open their general season September 15.
See all 2026 Montana elk season dates
Step 4: Set a realistic budget
A nonresident Elk Combination with prerequisites costs about $1,185 in 2026. A DIY trip usually totals $2,100 to $5,500. Guided hunts commonly run $5,000 to $12,000.
Break down the full cost of a Montana elk hunt
Step 5: Choose guided, DIY, or a drop camp
Montana has no wilderness guide requirement, so nonresidents can hunt the Bob Marshall, the Absaroka-Beartooth, or any other public land on their own. Many still choose an outfitter or a drop camp for big backcountry trips. Clients of licensed outfitters can also buy an extra preference point when they apply.
Compare guided, DIY, and drop camp hunts
Requirements every hunter needs
- Hunter education. Anyone born after January 1, 1985, must show proof of a hunter education course from Montana or another state or province.
- Conservation license ($10) and base hunting license ($50). Required for nonresidents and bought with your first license.
- Bow and arrow license. Required for archery-only seasons ($10 for nonresidents), along with bowhunter education or a previous year’s archery license.
- Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass. $7.50 for nonresidents 16 and older. Your combination includes fishing.
- Private land. You need landowner permission. FWP’s Block Management Program opens a lot of private land to free public hunting.
- CWD. FWP tests for chronic wasting disease and has carcass transport rules. Check fwp.mt.gov/cwd before you hunt.
Find a Montana elk outfitter
Horn & Fin lists guides, outfitters, drop camps, and DIY hunting options across Montana, from the Bob Marshall to the Breaks.
Compare Montana elk hunts
See Montana elk outfitters
Looking for a deal? Check our discount guided hunts and self-guided and DIY hunts.
Hunting deer too? See our Montana deer hunting guide.