Turkey Hunting Regulations

General Turkey Laws and Rules

– Statute denoted by MCA.

– Commission Rule denoted by CR.

Aircraft- Unlawful Use (MCA 87-6-208) (includes UAVs/drones)

A person may not

• kill, take, or shoot at any game bird, game animal, or furbearing animals from an aircraft.
• use an aircraft for the purpose of concentrating, pursuing, driving, rallying, or stirring up any game bird, migratory bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animals: or
• use an aircraft to locate any game animals for the purpose of:
  • hunting those animals during the same calendar day or
  • if in or using an aircraft, spot or locate any game animal or furbearing animal and communicate the location of the game animal or fur-bearing animal to any person: on the ground by means of any air-to-ground communication signal or other device as an aid to hunting or pursuing wildlife; or within the same calendar day after using an aircraft.

Artificial Light (MCA 87-6-401)

It is unlawful for anyone to take or attempt to take any game bird with the aid of projected artificial light. Use of rifle scopes that project an artificial light to illuminate the target or project infrared light visible only with specialized optics to illuminate the target are unlawful for the taking of game birds.

Baiting (MCA 87-6-401, CR)

• It is unlawful for anyone to hunt or attempt to hunt any game animal or game bird by the aid of or with the use of any bait, salt lick, trap, snare, or set gun.
• Baiting means the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of food sources or salt so as to constitute a lure or attraction.

Check Stations (MCA 87-6-218)

All hunters are required by law to stop as directed at all designated check stations on their way to and from hunting areas, even if they have no game to be checked.

Evidence of Sex for Pheasants and Turkey (MCA 87-6-406, CR)

It is unlawful to possess or transport within the state any pheasant or any turkey taken during the spring (male) season unless one leg and foot are left naturally attached for evidence of sex. The leg and foot shall remain attached at all times while being transported from the place where taken until it has arrived at the permanent residence of the possessor.

When transporting any species for which an electronic tag is issued, the individual transporting the harvested animal’s carcass must retain the confirmation number. The confirmation number must be presented to a department employee upon request MCA 87-6-201.

Hunter Orange

Shooting another hunter while swinging the gun on an upland bird is the leading cause of hunting-related accidents in Montana. Although not required, it is strongly recommended that all bird hunters wear at least a hunter orange hat or cap to reduce the chance of an accident.

Hunting Hours (CR)

Authorized hunting hours for the taking of upland game birds begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset each day of the hunting season. See official sunrise-sunset tables in these regulations.

Indian Reservations (CR)

The Fish and Wildlife Commission has, by rule, closed all lands within the exterior boundaries of Montana’s Indian Reservations to the hunting of upland game birds with the use of state licenses unless provided for in a cooperative agreement between the Tribal Government and the State of Montana. The State of Montana and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have entered into a cooperative management agreement on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Please check for upland game bird regulations specific to the Flathead Reservation. For information call the Kalispell FWP office at 406-752-5501 or the Tribes in Pablo at 406-883-2888 ext. 7200.

Exception: State upland game bird regulations apply to deeded “fee” land within the exterior boundary of the Crow Indian Reservation.

Kill Site Verification (ARM 12.6.1005)

At the request of a department game warden, it is required to return to the kill site of any game animal, game bird, wolf, or furbearer that has been hunted or trapped.

Landowner Permission (MCA 87-6-415)

A person may not hunt or attempt to hunt furbearers, game animals, migratory game birds, nongame wildlife, predatory animals, upland game birds, or wolves while hunting on private property without first obtaining permission of the landowner, the lessee, or their agents. Regardless of whether the land is posted or not, hunters must have permission from the landowner, lessee, or their agent before hunting on private property.

For the purposes of this section, the term “hunt” has the same meaning as provided in 87-6-101 and includes entering private land to: (a) retrieve wildlife; or (b) access public land to hunt.

License Validation and Tagging of Turkeys (MCA 87-6-412)

A person who kills, captures, or possesses a wild turkey by authority of any turkey tag or permit:

• shall validate the tag either electronically in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to 87-2-119 or by cutting out from the license or tag the date the turkey was killed prior to the person leaving or the turkey being removed from the site of the kill;
• shall keep the license or tag accompanying the turkey while the turkey is in the person’s possession unless the license or tag was electronically validated; and
• may not validate a turkey license or tag that is restricted to a hunting district other than the hunting district where the turkey was killed.

Motorized Vehicles (MCA 87-6-405)

It is unlawful for anyone to:

• Hunt or attempt to hunt any game animal or game bird from any self-propelled (motorized) or drawn vehicle. To be lawful, a hunter must have two feet on the ground and his/her body outside of the vehicle. Holders of the Permit To Hunt From A Vehicle are the exception to this.
• Use a motorized vehicle to concentrate, drive, rally, stir up, corral, or harass game animals.
• While hunting a person may not use a motor-driven vehicle off-road on state land.
• Use a motor-driven vehicle on a road or trail on state land if that road or trail is posted as closed by the land management agency. This restriction applies only to state land and not to federal land. For more information related to state school trust lands.
• Use a motor-driven vehicle other than on a road or trail designated for travel by a landowner unless permission has been given by that landowner.

Off Road- Federal lands (CR)

• A person may not operate, on federal public lands, a motorized wheeled vehicle off legal routes (including game retrieval). All federally approved travel plans on public lands in Montana have been adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Contact the appropriate land management agencies for travel plan information.

Boats (MCA 87-6-207)

• A person may not use a motorboat or a sailboat as defined in 23-2-502 for the purpose of killing, capturing, taking, pursuing, concentrating, driving, or stirring up any upland game bird, migratory bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal until the motor is shut off or the sails are furled and the progress of the vessel has ceased.

Nontoxic Shot

Hunters are reminded that nontoxic shot is required for the hunting of upland game birds on federal refuges or waterfowl production areas. Only federally-approved nontoxic shot may be used on these areas. Specific questions regarding this regulation should be made through local offices of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Public Roadways (MCA 87-6-403)

It is unlawful for anyone to hunt or attempt to hunt any game bird: on, from, or across any public highway or the shoulder, berm, barrow pit, or right-of-way of any public highway (the entire width between the boundary lines of every publicly maintained way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel).

Recorded Animal Sounds (MCA 87-6-401)

It is unlawful to use any recorded or electrically amplified bird or animal calls or sounds or imitations of bird or animal calls or sounds to assist in the hunting, taking, killing, or capturing of any wildlife except predatory animals, wolves, and those birds not protected by state or federal law.

Shooting Preserves (Private) (MCA 87-4-504)

To hunt upland game birds on a private shooting preserve, resident hunters must possess a valid upland game bird license and nonresident hunters must possess either a valid Upland Game Bird License or a 3-day Shooting Preserve License.

Waste of Game (MCA 87-6-205)

It is unlawful to waste any part of any game animal, game bird, or game fish suitable for food.

• The following are upland game bird parts “suitable for food:”
  • all birds that fall into the size category of the partridge or smaller, only the breasts must be retained;
  • all birds larger than a partridge and up to the size category of, and including, pheasants and sage grouse, the breasts and the thighs must be retained;
  • all turkeys: the breasts, thighs, and wings must be retained.
  • For migratory birds, “suitable for food” means the breast meat.

Waste of Gamebird (MCA 87-6-205)

It is unlawful to waste any part of a game bird suitable for food. Following are turkey parts suitable for food: breasts, thighs and wings.

Wild turkey Specific Regulations (MCA 87-6-401, CR)

Wild Turkey may be taken with:

• a shotgun not larger than a ten gauge;
• a long, recurve, or compound bow and arrow;
• a rifle, handgun, or crossbow may be used during the fall season except in areas with weapons restrictions limiting their use.