Hunting License MT—3 Easy Steps to Get Yours in 2026
In Montana, all hunters born after January 1, 1985, must pass a hunter safety course before getting the hunting license MT requires for hunts.
Hunter education in Montana helps hunters understand the ethics of hunting and how to stay safe in the field. The safety essentials you'll learn in a hunter safety course include tree stand safety, animal identification, handling firearms and bows safely, outdoor safety, why hunters wear blaze orange, and more.
So if you want to hunt in Montana in 2026, keep reading to learn how to take the required Montana hunter safety course. We'll also cover how to get your hunting license in three easy steps!
How to Get Your Montana Hunter Education Card in 2026
The first step toward getting your Montana hunting license is to show proof that you've passed a hunter education course. This proof is a hunter education card. The Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks department (Montana FWP) requires this card to get your hunting license.
The State of Montana offers three options for taking the course and getting certified.
Option 1: Take an In-person Class (Ages 10 and Up)
Anyone ages 10 and older can take the free in-person course offered through the Montana FWP. In this instructor-led course, you'll get hands-on learning about the essentials of hunting, including firearm safety.
Note that young hunters ages 10-11 can take the course and hunt as an apprentice, but will not be fully hunter-safety-certified until the year they turn 12 years old.
After attending all classroom sessions, working through the field day, and passing the final exam, you'll receive your hunter education card. Be sure to schedule and complete the course and exam ahead of the hunting season, so you have time to get the hunting license MT requires and plan your hunt.
Option 2: Take an Online-Only Course (Ages 18 and Up)
Hunters 18 years and older can take an approved online course to meet the hunter education requirements. There is no in-person classroom or field day requirement.
This is the most convenient (and fast) way to get your hunter education card! ilearntohunt is pleased to be approved by the Montana FWP as a course provider.
After completing the course and all in-course quizzes and passing the final exam, you'll earn your hunter education certification.
Option 3: Take a Hybrid Course (Online with In-Person Field Day Ages 12–17)
Young hunters can take the online course, but they'll also need to attend an in-person field day to complete their certification. During the field day, hunters must show competency in the four rules of firearm safety, understanding landowner relations and hunting ethics, animal identification, and other areas.
After passing the final exam for the online course, you'll print your hunter education certificate. Bring that document to your in-person field day.
Schedule a day and time to complete your certification through one of the state's Field Day sessions. Sessions generally last a few hours. After completing both the online course and the Field Day, you'll receive your hunter education certificate.
How to Get the Hunting License MT Requires in 3 Easy Steps
With your ilearntohunt hunter education course complete, you're ready to get your hunting license!
Note: You'll only need to take and pass the hunter safety course once. Your certification is good for life!
Here are three easy steps for getting your hunting license in Montana!
- Meet the Montana FWP Requirements for Hunter Education
Again, all hunters born after January 1, 1985, must complete a state-approved hunter education course before purchasing the hunting license MT requires.
ilearntohunt makes it easy to meet this requirement, along with the in-person Field Day for young hunters ages 12–17! Our course is approved by the Montana FWP. - Choose and Purchase the License You Need
Make sure you buy the right license based on what you plan to hunt. Montana offers resident and nonresident licenses based on what you plan to hunt.
Then, purchase your license online through the Montana FWP website or in person through a License Ambassador. These locations include Wal-Mart stores, sporting goods stores, some grocery stores, and other locations. - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Don't forget to carry a valid hunting license when in the field (along with your hunter education card). If a wildlife official asks for your hunter education card or license, you'll need to show it.
If you also need tags for a legal hunt, make sure you tag your harvest properly.
How to Take the Montana Hunter Safety Course Online
The easiest (and fastest) way to get your Montana hunter safety course certification is to start with the ilearntohunt online course!
The ilearntohunt course:
- Is approved by the Montana FWP and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).
- Is a game-style format. It's fun and educational for hunters of any age!
- Saves your progress (i.e., start and stop as needed).
- Can be completed (quickly) in under 3 hours.
- Is convenient to take anywhere you can connect to the internet using a phone, tablet, or computer.
- Includes a character-driven story with real-life scenarios and quizzes to help you learn the required material and pass the quizzes.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. Score at least 85% on the exam to pass.
Remember: young hunters ages 12–17 will print the hunter education certification as proof of completion, then take the required in-person field day.
Why Hunter Safety Education is Important
Why take a hunter safety course? Why does Montana require it?
Hunter education helps keep you alive, keeps your hunting buddies safe, and helps protect the future of hunting in Montana.
This training isn’t only for first-time hunters or young people buying their first license. It’s for anyone who heads out into Montana’s backcountry, plains, or forests carrying a firearm, bow, or crossbow.
When every hunter completes a Montana-approved course, we share the same foundation. We understand safe equipment handling, how to clearly identify our target and what lies beyond it, how to respect both private property and public lands, and how to look out for one another while we’re out there.
That common understanding helps preserve our access, strengthens the reputation of hunters across the state, and supports the long-term future of hunting in Montana.
Hunter education:
- Prevents accidents and injuries: Safe gun handling, careful shot selection, and staying aware of your surroundings are what keep people alive. The expectation is straightforward and firm: everyone heads home safely when the day is done.
- Develops skilled, self-reliant hunters: This training goes far beyond the basics. You’ll cover navigation, first aid, survival knowledge, and proper use of your equipment. Just as important, you’ll learn how to hunt responsibly around others and how to treat landowners, fellow hunters, and Montana’s landscapes with respect.
- Encourages ethical, responsible hunting: How you hunt matters. Hunter education reinforces fair chase, respect for wildlife, and following regulations so healthy game populations and hunting traditions continue across Montana.
- Keeps you on the right side of the law: In Montana, like most states, hunter education certification is required to buy a hunting license. Understanding the rules helps you avoid trouble and ensures a level playing field for everyone in the field.
Simply put, hunter education protects hunters, passes along the skills and values that define the tradition, and supports conservation. Whether you’re brand new or a seasoned hunter gearing up for the next season, this training sets you up for safer, smarter, and more responsible hunts for years to come.
Why is it Important to Take a State-Specific Hunter Education Course?
Most states honor hunter education certificates earned elsewhere. That’s known as reciprocity. It’s helpful—but it doesn’t always prepare you for the details that are unique to hunting in Montana.
Every state manages seasons, access, regulations, and safety considerations a little differently. Those differences can be bigger than you expect, and they matter when you’re trying to stay legal and avoid headaches in the field. The way things were done where you hunted before may not match how it works here.
Before assuming an out-of-state course has you fully covered, make sure you understand Montana’s specific rules and expectations. A Montana-approved hunter education course walks through the state laws, land access considerations, and safety practices you need to hunt responsibly here.
It doesn’t take long to complete, and the time you invest pays off in smoother, safer, and more confident days afield.
Why Choose ilearntohunt?
When you choose ilearntohunt for the hunter education you need to get the hunting license MT requires, you learn everything required by the state in an online format that's fun and interactive.
Choosing ilearntohunt means:
- Montana FWP-Approved Hunter Safety Education: Our fun, interactive course meets the hunter education requirements set by IHEA-USA and the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks.
- No Minimum Time Requirements: There are no timers when working through an ilearntohunt course! You can complete our interactive course faster than traditional online courses.
- Real-Life Scenarios: Choose a character to start the course, then make choices in various scenarios to move through levels by applying what you’ve learned.
- Better Information Retention: Studies show that instruction that engages the brain with words and images can sharply increase student comprehension and retention.
When you've worked through all the levels, passed the final exam, and completed your in-person Field-Day session (for hunters ages 12–17), you've met the hunter safety education requirement for Montana!
Get Your Hunter Safety Certification for Montana with ilearntohunt!
Make sure you're ready for hunting season in Montana! Take the ilearntohunt hunter safety course to get certified. You can't get the hunting license MT requires without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to the top questions about the Montana hunter safety course!
Q: Can you take a hunter safety course online in Montana?
A: Yes, you can take a hunter safety course online in Montana! The most convenient way to take the course is through Montana FWP-approved providers like ilearntohunt. Young hunters ages 11–17 must complete their certification with an in-person Field Day.
Q: Can you get a hunting license in Montana without taking the safety course?
A: No, you must have proof of hunter education to buy a Montana hunting license.
Q: How much is the hunter safety course in Montana?
A: If you take the online, game-style hunter safety course for Montana through ilearntohunt, the cost is $49.95.
Q: How long does the Montana hunter safety course take?
A: The online MT hunter education course through ilearntohunt typically takes three hours (or less) to complete.
Q: When should I sign up for the MT hunter education course before hunting season?
A: We highly recommend signing up and completing the course at least several weeks before your planned hunt to receive your certification and avoid last-minute issues.
