Sub-species: Merriam’s
Tags: Over the counter
Application Period: n/a
Electronic or Print at Home Fulfillment: YES
Hunter Education Required: Yes if born after Jan 1, 1985
Bag Limit: 1 male turkey on General Turkey License valid statewide in the spring or one either sex in Regions 1-3 and 5-7 in the fall. Additional regional opportunities are available.
2026 Spring Season Dates: April 15- May 31 EXCEPT Nonresidents hunting on public lands and private lands that are part of a hunting access program cannot begin until April 25.
2025 Fall Season Dates: Sept 1 – Jan 1
Special Youth Hunt: No
Special Disabled Hunt: No
Decoys Allowed: Yes
Tagging Instructions: A hunter must cut out the proper month and day of the kill from the appropriate license and attach it to the animal before the carcass is removed from the site of the kill, or before the hunter leaves the site of the kill. To properly validate a license (sometimes referred to as a tag), the triangles denoting the month and day the animal was killed must be completely cut out and removed. The properly validated license must remain with the meat (including cold storage) until consumed.
Noteworthy Restrictions: Season for nonresidents hunting on public lands and private lands that are part of a hunting access program begin 10 days after residents. A person may not use an aircraft, including a helicopter for the purpose of concentrating, pursuing, driving, rallying, stirring up, or shooting at any game bird. It is unlawful for anyone to hunt or attempt to hunt any game bird from any self propelled (motorized) or drawn vehicle. To be lawful, a hunter must have two feet on the ground and his/her body outside of the vehicle. It is unlawful for anyone to hunt or attempt to hunt any game bird: on, from, or across any public highway or the shoulder, berm, barrow pit or right-of-way of any public highway (the entire width between the boundary lines of every publicly maintained way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.) It is unlawful to waste any part of a game bird suitable for food. Following are turkey parts suitable for food: breasts, thighs and wings. Shotguns 10ga and smaller are legal.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
406-444-2535
Licenses Needed to Hunt Turkeys
This site is dedicated to the wonderful passion of Spring turkey hunting. Our goal is to encourage you to “expand your season”, by “expanding your boundaries”. We hope that you find this information useful in planning your next hunt. The information in these pages has been compiled and interpreted to the best of our ability. Please consult local hunting regulations to be sure that you are in compliance with all hunting laws. ©Hunt49 2026