Montana Pheasant Season 2026
Montana's pheasant season runs October 10, 2026 to January 1, 2027 for residents, October 17, 2026 to January 1, 2027 for nonresident 3-day license holders on private land and October 20, 2026 to January 1, 2027 for nonresidents on public and access program land. The youth season comes first, Sep 19 to 20. The 2026 outlook is quoted below in the agency's words.
The 2026 Montana pheasant outlook
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks published its 2026 outlook in words.
This has been a difficult year to put together an outlook for upland bird hunting, but habitat conditions have biologists optimistic that bird numbers will be up from 2025. Spring surveys showed pheasant crow counts above last year’s counts especially in places with good habitat.Upland Game Bird Forecasts, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
- Northwest Montana (Region 1)Overall, it looks like a down year for upland game numbers in R1.
- North-central Montana (Region 4)Spring surveys showed pheasant crow counts above last year’s counts especially in places with good habitat.
- South-central Montana (Region 5)Spring surveys showed pheasant crow counts below last year’s numbers in areas of good habitat.
- Northeast Montana (Region 6)Pheasant numbers across the region should provide good opportunities for hunters, and likely similar to or better than the last couple of years.
- Southeast Montana (Region 7)Ring-necked pheasant crow count surveys were more optimistic, with numbers well above average.
Montana pheasant season dates and bag limit
Montana's pheasant season runs October 10, 2026 to January 1, 2027 for residents, October 17, 2026 to January 1, 2027 for nonresident 3-day license holders on private land and October 20, 2026 to January 1, 2027 for nonresidents on public and access program land. The youth season comes first, Sep 19 to 20. The daily limit is 3 roosters and 9 in possession. Only roosters may be taken.
- ResidentsOct 10Season for residents, Oct 10 to Jan 1
- Nonresident 3-day license holders on private landOct 17Season for nonresident 3-day license holders on private land, Oct 17 to Jan 1
- Nonresidents on public and access program landOct 20Season for nonresidents on public and access program land, Oct 20 to Jan 1
- Youth huntSep 19Youth, Sep 19 to 20
- Residents
- Oct 10 to Jan 1
- Nonresident 3-day license holders on private land
- Oct 17 to Jan 1
- Nonresidents on public and access program land
- Oct 20 to Jan 1
- Youth season
- Sep 19 to 20
- Daily limit
- 3 roosters a day
- Possession
- 9 in possession
- Which birds
- Roosters only
- Shooting hours
- one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
- Youth OnlySep 19 to 20youth 15 and under with a nonhunting adult
- Ring-necked Pheasant (residents on all lands)Oct 10 to Jan 1residents everywhere; nonresident season licence holders on private land outside access programs
- Nonresident 3-day License holdersOct 17 to Jan 1nonresident 3-day licence on private land outside access programs; Oct 20 on public and access program land
- Ring-necked Pheasant (nonresidents on public land and access program land)Oct 20 to Jan 1nonresidents on public land and Block Management or other access program land start 10 days late
Bag Limit: 3 cock pheasants daily. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regulations, read October 8, 2026.
Public land and walk-in access in Montana
- Block Management Program
“The Block Management Program is a cooperative effort among private and some public landowners, FWP, and hunters. The program seeks to: 1) maintain public hunting access to private and isolated public lands”
- Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP)
“Provides technical and financial assistance to enhance and conserve upland game bird habitats on lands open to public upland game bird hunting.”
What it takes to hunt pheasants in Montana
- Residents
- Base Hunting License $10, Conservation License $8 (ages 18-61), Upland Game Bird License $10 (ages 18-61)
- Nonresidents
- Base Hunting License $50, Conservation License $10, Upland Game Bird License $127 (ages 18 and over); or 3-day Upland Game Bird License $60, not valid for ring-necked pheasants during the opening week
Every Montana license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the Montana hunting license page.
Montana pheasant questions
Pheasant season in other states
Montana read October 8, 2026 from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.