Montana’s non-resident bison hunts allow hunters the chance to harvest a bison as they migrate out of Yellowstone National Park. Montana has two bison migration hunts. Unit 385-20 is on the northern border of Yellowstone National Park near the town of Gardiner, and unit 395-20 is located on the western side of the park near the town of West Yellowstone. Season dates for these hunts will be November 15, 2025–February 15, 2026.
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With a combination of mild weather and a lack of good snowfall, most of the herd will stay safely within the confines of the park’s boundaries for the entire hunting season. Aside from the cold weather and heavy snowfall in the winter of 2022-23, this has been the case since the 2017-2018 hunting season. In 2024, only one of the 25 bison permit hunters took a bison on the West Yellowstone hunt and none of the 40 Gardiner hunters were able to catch a bison outside of the park boundary.
There is no point system for Montana bison, so your odds are the same as all other applicants. Keep in mind that there will be a lot of Native American tribes from across several of the western states that have traditional hunting rights and will be hunting if bison are coming out of the park. It can’t be overstated how many hunters come away disappointed from their Montana bison hunt every and every year. These can be extremely frustrating hunts, but if you want to hunt Boone and Crockett eligible bison, Montana is one of only a handful of states that offers the opportunity to do so.
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The Montana Bison application deadline is May 1, 2025.
Our magazine, which is available in print and online, has everything in one location - application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning, and much more. If you would like access to all of our research, join today!
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Up-Front Fees |
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| Base Hunting License | $15 |
| Conservation License | $10 |
| Bonus Point (optional/per species) | $20 |
| Bison Application Fee | $50 |
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| Bison Permit | $1,250 |
| Bow and Arrow License (required for all archery hunts) | $10 |
| *Fees do not include the additional 2.5% convenience fee. | |
MT Bison Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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