Streamlined System Highlights FWP Changes
New hunting and finishing laws passed during the 2025 Legislative session, along with adopted regulations by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission mean some significant changes for hunters and anglers, with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks highlighting the changes in a post this week.
One of the biggest is FWP’s new “License Ambassador Program” which is a shift in how those interested in purchasing a license can get one. Essentially, the change means businesses will now have a dedicated station — such as a tablet or computer — for those seeking to buy a license.
“By moving to a web-based model that uses a business’s own equipment, FWP can reduce administrative costs, focus resources on streamlining operations, and allow new businesses to sell licenses,” a webpage for the program says, adding it is replacing outdated point-of-sale systems.
Not all businesses that used to sell licences now do and FWP has a tool for looking up the closest place to buy one. A list of participating businesses is also available and FWP has said it provided marketing materials to those stores to clearly mark where licenses can be purchased. Cash cannot be used to pay for licenses.
“This change will ultimately provide more businesses where hunters and anglers who like to buy or apply for licenses in person, can go for help,” FWP director Christy Clark said in a press release.
The online system for purchasing permits has not significantly changed, and FWP even has an app with a digital wallet to store tags and licences, which is helpful when looking to validate a harvest.
Deer regulations have also changed in an effort to protect mule deer numbers. Many Mule Deer B licenses are now only valid on private land, with FWP saying to check with the hunting district before going out.
Residents can now only hold three deer licenses, which includes General Deer — this is down from eight previously. Nonresidents are limited to one license unless they draw a combo license, in which case they can have two.
Elk regulations also has seen some changes, with the quota for 799-20 Elk License — a high-quality elk hunting area near Ekalaka — to 325. One outfitter near Ekalaka offers trips in that area starting at $8450.
Region 1 Elk licenses are also only valid on private land.
Black bear permits in Region 5 are now available, with the FWP post going on to say hunters can accrue bonus points — a lottery system FWP uses to dole out limited permits — for harvesting bear.
Shed hunting is also seeing changes for non-residents, with legislation passed in the midst of minor scandal involving the Montana National Guard, where they allegedly landed a helicopter on private land to collect antlers without permission.
Nonresidents cannot pick up antlers in state wildlife management areas in the first seven days they are open to the public in the spring. Nonresident shed hunting licenses are $50 and are asked to look at regulations for the management area they plan to visit. There are no changes to resident shed hunting regulations.
The Legislature also tinkered with costs for various permits, including increasing nonresident base hunting license fees from $15 to $50.
Additionally, there have been significant changes to fees surrounding birds. Crane and Swan licenses are $10 for residents and $75 for nonresidents, and additionally there is an application fee for those that runs $10 and $50, respectively. Resident migratory bird licenses are now $10.
Combo licenses have also changed, for residents, this includes: Upland bird from $7.50 to $10 Sportsman without Bear from $62 to $64.50 Sportsman with Bear from $77 to $79.50 Combo license prices have also changed for nonresidents as well.
Upland Bird (season) from $110 to $127 Upland Bird (three-day) from $50 to $60 Big Game Combo to $1,312 Elk Combo to $1,112 Deer Combo to $760
