New license year For Hunting/Fishing Starts March 1

New Year’s Day for many outdoor recreationists in Montana is March 1. This is the day everyone can buy their 2026 hunting and fishing licenses and apply for special draw licenses and permits. It’s also the day when recreationists need to renew their conservation license to support the state lands they use.

This year, hunters and anglers will see quite a few changes that are worth paying close attention to. These changes come from legislation passed by the 2025 Montana Legislature and new regulations adopted by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Licenses for the 2026 license year can be purchased starting Sunday, March 1. If you plan on being in the field on that day, you can buy your license online at ols.fwp.mt.gov Hunters and anglers buying their license in person at a local business will see some changes as FWP is transitioning to a License Ambassador program. This cha...