What hunters look for in Montana
Hunters lease chiefly for trophy-class mule deer and elk. Irrigated fields and valley bottoms draw game off crowded public parcels, so that is the private ground hunters want to secure before the rut. Pronghorn on the eastern prairies and upland birds like sharp-tailed grouse and pheasant add real value to a property.
The Missouri and Yellowstone river breaks, the Bitterroot and Flathead valleys in the west, the Missouri Breaks, and the eastern prairie ranch country around Miles City and the Hi-Line are all well-known hunting areas.
When hunters want to be on your land
Archery deer and elk generally open in early September, with the general firearm season running from roughly late October into late November. Spring turkey runs in April and May and waterfowl in the fall, and many species are hunted on drawn permits by district.
Seasons, licenses and regulations are set by the state and change every year; treat this as background, not official information. Some states also have rules for landowners who lease hunting rights.
Official source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Leasing your Montana land, answered
- Who would be hunting my land in Montana?
- A HuntingLeaseUSA member with a paid membership, booking under their own name, not an anonymous reply to a classified ad. In Montana, the hunters who lease private land are mainly elk, mule deer and pronghorn hunters. On a season lease, one party holds the ground for the season, bound by your rules.
- How do I get paid for a hunting lease in Montana?
- The hunter pays us when they book, so you never chase anyone for money. We keep our fee and pay your share to your bank account on our regular payout run after the month the access period starts. There is no fee to be listed.
- What about liability when hunters are on my Montana land?
- The hunter who books signs the Access Agreement, with your rules in it, and the Liability Waiver at checkout, before they pay. Check with your own insurer or attorney about what applies to a landowner who leases hunting rights in Montana.
Leasing land somewhere else? See every state.
How many acres, and what’s on it?
Tell us on a short call: any irrigated fields, river bottom or breaks, and the elk, mule deer and pronghorn you have seen. We’ll go through how listing works and what comparable ground nearby has been leasing for. No account to create and no fee to be listed.