New License Year

Happy new license year! Today is the day you can buy your 2023 hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1, but don’t wait until the last minute. It’s a good idea to apply early.

Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can be made beginning March 1.

You can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website beginning at 5 a.m. on March 1; click on “Buy and Apply.” Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Once you have your licenses and permits, you can use the MyFWP mobile app to hold and display licenses, permits and E-Tags. Once you’ve downloaded these items, you will be able to access them in the field without cell service.

If you do not already have a MyFWP account, you can set one up through the MyFWP login page. Users need to make sure to link their ALS number to their MyFWP account to ensure their hunting and fishing licenses are attached to their MyFWP account.

There are several useful resources available on the FWP website to help you plan your hunt, including the Hunt Planner and the hunting regulations. To watch a video on the permit application process, go to the Buy and Apply page. There are tutorial videos for both resident and nonresident hunters.

The licensing call center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through March 31; after April 1, the hours will return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call center can be reached at 406-444-2950.

Application deadlines

• March 23: Upper Missouri River Paddlefish harvest tag (white tag)
• April 1: Deer and elk permits, and non-resident big game combinations
• May 1: Moose, sheep, goat, bison
• June 1: Deer B, elk B, antelope