Montana elk season 2026-27 Open
Elk season in Montana is open now, last season closes Feb 15, 2027.
Dates only. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Read today.
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 to Dec 20, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 28 days |
| General | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026 | Open open, closes in 15 days |
| General | Backcountry - HD's 150, 280, 316 | Sep 15, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026 | Open open, closes in 15 days |
| Shoulder seasons | Statewide | Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027 | Open open, closes in 93 days |
Elk hunting in Montana runs from Aug 15, 2026 (Shoulder seasons) to Feb 15, 2027 (Shoulder seasons) in the 2026-27 season, and is open now, last season closes Feb 15, 2027.
Statewide seasons: archery Sep 5, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026; muzzleloader Dec 12, 2026 to Dec 20, 2026; general Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026; shoulder seasons Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027.
Dates differ by zone or unit (Backcountry - HD's 150, 280, 316); check the zone column before you plan.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, FWP 2026 Hunting Seasons (page). Read today.