Black bear, wild turkey hunting seasons begin April 15

Hunting seasons for black bear and wild turkey began today in Northwest Montana.

The last day for black bears is June 15.

Some of the top bear-producing Management Units in the state are 100, 101, 103 and 104. According to 2023 spring and fall harvest reports, hunters in Region 1 bagged 457 black bears, nearly 31% of the total state harvest. Neighboring Region 2 was next in Montana with hunters taking 397 bears. In Regions 1 and 2, the female harvest was about 40%

In Region 103, hunters bagged 77 black bears. Region 100 was next with 56 while Region 104 saw 30 bears harvested and Region 101 hunters harvested 16 bears.

For the 2023 spring bear season, hunters in Region 1 took 307 animals.

Hunters are allowed to harvest male and female bears, but not females with cubs or bears that are less than one year old.

Physical inspection of a black bear harvested in Region 1 is no longer required.

However, mandatory 48 hour reporting of any successful black bear harvest is required. In addition, successful hunters are required to submit two premolar teeth from any black bear harvested in Region 1 within 10 days of harvest. 

Teeth can be submitted in person or by mail (post-marked within 10 days). Please include the following information with the teeth: Hunter name, reference number received from the Harvest Reporting line or MyFWP portal, date of harvest, BMU and sex of bear. Wrap the teeth in a paper towel and place inside a plastic bag. Place plastic bag containing the teeth and data sheet in an envelope and include your return address.

Mail teeth to: FWP R1 Headquarters, 490 North Meridian, Kalispell, MT, 59901. 

Teeth can also be dropped off at any FWP regional office or the Thompson Falls and Libby area offices.

Please contact your local biologist or call 406-752-5501 if you have questions.

A free Black Bear Identification Test Certificate is required to obtain a license. A hunter must take and pass a “Black Bear Identification test” before purchasing a black bear hunting license. A hunter must present a certificate of completion issued by FWP at the time of purchase. 

The test is available online at:

fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/bear-identification.

Hunters are encouraged to carry bear spray in case of encounters with grizzly bears, which are not lawful to hunt.

Information on being bear aware is available at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/be-bear-aware.

A lot of good information about other rules and regulations is available at https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations/black-bear or in the black bear hunting guide where hunting licenses are sold.

Hunters can pursue turkeys until May 31. 

For complete rules and regulations, refer to https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/hunt/regulations/2025/2025-turkey-final-for-print.pdf or the spring and fall turkey guide, available where licenses are sold.