Muzzleloader Season Dec. 11-19
While the general rifle season is now closed, traditional muzzleloader enthusiasts will have a season of their own. The nine-day season muzzleloader heritage hunting season was established when House Bill 242 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte earlier this year. The season begins on Dec. 11 and goes through Dec. 19.
Hunters should note that many of Montana’s Wildlife Management Areas will be closed from Dec. 2 through May 14.
Before heading to the field, hunters need to check the online hunting regulations to make sure they are compliant. A list of WMAs and their seasonal closure dates is also available online.
Some regulations include: A person may take a deer or elk with a license or permit that is valid on the last day of the general hunting season.
Any unused license-permit valid on the last day of the general season is valid during the muzzleloader heritage season.
Hunters can use plain lead projectiles and a muzzleloading rifle that is charged with loose black powder, loose pyrodex or an equivalent loose black powder substitute and ignited by a flintlock, wheel lock, matchlock or percussion mechanism using a percussion or musket cap.
The muzzleloading rifle must be a minimum of .45 caliber and may not have more than two barrels.
During the muzzleloader heritage season, hunters may not use a muzzleloading rifle that requires insertion of a cap or primer into the open breech of the barrel (inline), is capable of being loaded from the breech, or is mounted with an optical magnification device.
Use of pre-prepared paper or metallic cartridges, sabots, gas checks or other similar power and range-enhancing manufactured loads that enclose the projectile from the rifling or bore of the firearm is also prohibited.
Keep vigilant with grizzly bear awareness. With the mild weather, bears are still active. All bears are potentially dangerous. Hunters should be prepared to encounter a bear. For more information on hunting in Montana, visit fwp. mt.gov/hunt.
