The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday, Dec. 4, adopted a handful of new deer hunting regulations aimed at reducing hunting pressure on public land and bringing the state’s flagging mule deer population out of a multiyear decline. During an eight-hour meeting in Helena, the commission voted to reduce available nonresident deer hunter licenses by about 2,500 licenses for the 20262027

Muzzleloader heritage season opens on Saturday, Dec. 13, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 21. This season is for heritage muzzleloaders only; no other means of taking game, such as archery, is allowed. Note that some areas have elk shoulder seasons through Feb. 15, where firearms and archery equipment may be allowed. Hunters should also note that many of Montana’s Block Management Areas, even