Build the Full License Stack Before You Fish
Montana’s advertised fishing price may not be the final amount. Most anglers age 12 or older need a Conservation License and fishing privilege, while anglers age 16 or older also pay the Angler AIS Prevention Pass.
This guide calculates the complete 2026 cost, explains ALS and MyFWP steps, and helps you identify district exceptions, special permits and live summer restrictions.
Montana License Help by Trip Situation
What Does the Typical Angler Need?
Full season
$8 Conservation License + $2 Angler AIS + $21 fishing privilege = $31 before the online fee.
Five-day trip
$10 Conservation License + $7.50 Angler AIS + $56 fishing privilege = $73.50.
Ordinary state fishing
No standard fishing, Conservation or Angler AIS license is generally required, but all limits, closures and methods still apply.
Special-water warning: Yellowstone National Park, reservation waters, bull-trout fisheries and paddlefish opportunities can require separate permits, cards or tags.
Calculate the Full Montana Fishing License Cost
The calculator adds the fishing privilege, Conservation License, age-appropriate Angler AIS pass, optional nonresident vessel pass and the official online-service formula.
Montana License Stack Calculator
Montana Fishing License Cost in 2026
Resident Season Totals
| Resident category | Conservation | Angler AIS | Fishing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 12–15 | $4.00 | No fee | $10.50 | $14.50 |
| Age 16–17 | $4.00 | $2.00 | $10.50 | $16.50 |
| Age 18–61 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $21.00 | $31.00 |
| Age 62+ | $4.00 | $2.00 | $10.50 | $16.50 |
| Approved disabled resident age 18–61 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $10.50 | $20.50 |
Resident Two-Day Totals
| Resident category | Complete total | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Age 12–15 | $9.00 | $4 Conservation + $5 fishing |
| Age 16–17 | $11.00 | $4 Conservation + $2 AIS + $5 fishing |
| Age 18–61 | $15.00 | $8 Conservation + $2 AIS + $5 fishing |
| Age 62+ | $11.00 | $4 Conservation + $2 AIS + $5 fishing |
Nonresident Totals
| Duration | Age 12–15 | Age 16+ | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| One day | $24.00 | $31.50 | One calendar day |
| Five days | $66.00 | $73.50 | Five consecutive days |
| Season | $110.00 | $117.50 | Through February 28, 2027 |
Online Service Fee
Montana Online Licensing adds 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. This is calculated on the completed transaction rather than quoted as part of the individual license prices.
After reviewing the complete totals, verify the current products on the official Montana FWP fishing-license page.
Two-Day, Five-Day or Season License?
Two consecutive days
A resident adult age 18–61 pays $15 for the first complete two-day stack. If Conservation and AIS prerequisites are already owned, another two-day fishing privilege is only the fishing component.
Multiple trips
The season stack is $31 for a standard resident adult and is usually easier when fishing on several separated dates.
One fishing day
The normal age-16+ total is $31.50. The Conservation and AIS prerequisites are annual within the license year when already owned.
Five consecutive days
The normal age-16+ total is $73.50. Confirm that all five fishing dates are consecutive before selecting the product.
Season does not mean 365 days from purchase. Every 2026 season license expires at the end of February 2027.
What the Conservation License Covers
Most anglers age 12 or older must hold the annual Conservation License before purchasing fishing privileges. It also provides recreation access to most covered Montana state lands.
2026 Conservation License Prices
| Customer | Price |
|---|---|
| Resident age 18–61 | $8.00 |
| Resident age 12–17 or 62+ | $4.00 |
| Nonresident age 12+ | $10.00 |
Access Included
- Most Montana Fishing Access Sites
- Wildlife Management Areas
- Wildlife Habitat Protection Areas
- Covered state trust-land recreation access
It does not create private-land permission. Obtain landowner permission where required. Montana State Parks also use their own entrance, camping and launch rules.
Information Needed
Prepare valid photo identification and the last four digits of the customer’s Social Security number. The requirement applies to the customer record, not merely the payment cardholder.
Review the access and identification details on the official Conservation License page.
Angler AIS Pass, Vessel AIS Pass and Inspection
Angler AIS Prevention Pass
The Angler AIS pass is part of the fishing-license stack. It costs $2 for a resident age 16 or older and $7.50 for a nonresident age 16 or older. Anglers age 15 or younger pay no Angler AIS fee.
Nonresident Vessel AIS Prevention Pass
| Nonresident watercraft | Annual fee | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Motorized | $30.00 | Motorboat or any craft equipped with a motor |
| Nonmotorized | $10.00 | Kayak, canoe, paddleboard or similar craft |
Before Launching
- Buy the vessel pass for the specific nonresident watercraft.
- Carry electronic or paper proof; no decal is issued.
- Stop at every open inspection station encountered.
- Complete the required inspection before launching.
- Drain water and remove plants, mud and animals.
- Arrange decontamination when required for ballast or bladder systems.
An angler’s $7.50 AIS pass does not cover the boat. A visiting kayak angler can need both the fishing-license stack and the $10 vessel pass.
Use the official Montana AIS pass and inspection guidance before transporting watercraft.
How to Buy a Montana Fishing License Online
Find the Existing ALS Record
Anyone who purchased a Montana license during the past 20 years may already have a lifetime ALS customer number. Use the lookup before creating a new record.
Update Instead of Duplicating
A former nonresident who now qualifies as a resident should update the existing ALS record rather than create a second customer profile.
Select the Correct Fishing Duration
Residents choose two days or season. Nonresidents choose one day, five consecutive days or season.
Review “Buy Items Again”
The system can preselect products purchased previously. Uncheck anything not needed and do not assume last year’s fishing choices match the new trip.
Allow the System to Add Prerequisites
Online Licensing may identify missing Conservation or AIS prerequisites and add them to the cart. Read each notice rather than dismissing it.
Verify Customer and Contact Details
- Correct customer and ALS number
- Correct date of birth
- Correct resident or nonresident status
- Correct license year and duration
- Correct phone, mailing address and email
- Correct Conservation and AIS products
- Correct credit-card expiration entered as MMYY
Open the Payment Receipt
Use “View/Print License & Application Details,” save the emailed receipt and verify every privilege before leaving the transaction.
Current system availability: Online Licensing posts a nightly maintenance window from approximately 11:45 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. Plan same-day purchases outside that window.
After preparing the customer details, open the official Montana Online Licensing System.
How to Print or Carry the License in MyFWP
Print From a Computer
The official guidebook recommends printing on plain white 8.5-by-11-inch paper. Printing may not work correctly from an iPad and can fail on other mobile devices, so a desktop or laptop is the safer choice.
- Complete payment.
- Open the Payment Receipt page.
- Select View/Print License & Application Details.
- Save the PDF before closing the browser.
- Print on plain white letter-size paper.
- Check the name, ALS number and privileges.
Reprint a Lost Paper License
Sign back into the correct customer record and use the available “Reprint Items” workflow. Do not repurchase the same fishing privilege simply because the paper copy was lost.
Use MyFWP Offline
- Create or open the MyFWP account.
- Link the correct ALS customer record.
- Open the active license while connected to the internet.
- Remain signed in.
- Test the license in airplane mode.
- Carry backup power or a printed copy on remote trips.
MyFWP stores proof; it is not the primary purchase checkout. Buy through Online Licensing, an FWP office or an authorized license provider first.
Use the official MyFWP instructions for account linking and offline display.
Montana Residency and Special Purchase Paths
General Resident Test
- Live physically in Montana for at least 180 consecutive days immediately before purchase.
- Register vehicles in Montana.
- Register to vote in Montana when registered anywhere.
- Do not claim current resident hunting, fishing or trapping privileges elsewhere.
- File required Montana income-tax returns as a resident.
- After qualifying, maintain Montana as the principal abode for at least 120 days each year.
Property ownership or a Montana mailing address does not create residency. An absentee owner can still be a nonresident for licensing.
Recently Issued Montana Identification
A Montana driver’s license or ID issued less than six months earlier can require a residency affidavit and additional verification through an FWP office.
Active-Duty Military
A service member assigned to active duty in Montana may qualify through the military-residency process after the required Montana presence period and submission of official assignment orders.
Nonresident Native
A person born in Montana who meets the family and prior-license or hunter-education conditions may qualify for reduced nonresident fishing pricing after FWP approves the documentation. Conservation and AIS prerequisites can still apply.
Full-Time Nonresident College Student
Eligible students enrolled for at least 12 credits at a participating Montana college or university may have a reduced fishing path based on state reciprocity. The annual program generally opens after the second Monday in September and requires enrollment verification.
Review the complete tests on the official Montana residency information page.
Where a Montana State Fishing License Works—and Where It Does Not
Ordinary Montana Waters
Use the state license on waters governed by Montana FWP, subject to the correct district standard, exact-water exception and current closure notice.
Private Property
The license does not grant trespass rights. Obtain landowner permission and follow posted access conditions.
Yellowstone National Park
A Montana state fishing license is not valid or required inside Yellowstone National Park. Anglers age 16 or older need a Yellowstone permit.
| Yellowstone permit | Current price |
|---|---|
| Three days | $40 |
| Seven days | $55 |
| Season | $75 |
After confirming the trip is inside the park boundary, use the official Yellowstone fishing-permit page.
Flathead Reservation and Tribal Waters
A Montana state license alone may not cover fishing on reservation waters. Nonmember anglers can need a Conservation License, Flathead Reservation fishing privilege and CSKT AIS pass, with different products for age, residency and location.
- Confirm whether the access point and water lie inside reservation boundaries.
- Identify whether the angler is a member or nonmember.
- Check whether the trip is limited to the south half of Flathead Lake.
- Complete first-time registration through an authorized vendor when required.
- Carry the state and tribal documents that apply to that exact activity.
After identifying the exact location, review the official CSKT Tribal Fish & Game information and current nonmember regulations.
How to Find the Correct Rule for an Exact Water
Identify the District
Determine whether the water is in the Western, Central or Eastern Fishing District.
Read the District Standard
Check the standard season, fishing hours, daily and possession limits, bait rules and tackle restrictions.
Search the Exact Water
Look for the river, creek, lake or reservoir in the district’s Exceptions section.
Apply the Exception
When a water-specific exception conflicts with the district standard, follow the exception.
Check Live Restrictions
Review current closures and hoot-owl restrictions immediately before fishing.
Decision rule: the district standard applies only when the exact water does not have a different listed exception.
Use the official Montana fishing-regulations page to open the 2026 booklet and district resources.
Hoot-Owl Restrictions and Emergency Closures
Hoot-Owl Restriction
A hoot-owl restriction prohibits fishing from 2:00 p.m. until midnight on the river section identified in the active notice.
Full Fishing Closure
A full closure prohibits all angling on the named water or reach during the stated period.
When to Recheck
- The night before the trip
- Again on the morning of fishing
- After prolonged heat or low flows
- Before moving to a different river reach
- After seeing new signs at an access point
A printed regulation booklet cannot show a restriction issued after printing. The current closure notice controls the legal hours.
Check the official current waterbody restrictions before every warm-weather river trip.
Intentional Bull Trout Fishing
Intentional bull-trout fishing is open only in specifically authorized waters. An angler chooses one regulated area for the license year:
- Lake Koocanusa; or
- Hungry Horse Reservoir and the authorized South Fork Flathead River section as the combined alternative.
Catch Card Requirements
- Obtain the free water-specific physical Bull Trout Catch Card.
- Do not rely on a digital card; a mobile option is not offered.
- Record both retained and released bull trout immediately.
- Enter month, day, zone and length to the nearest half inch.
- Follow the separate harvest or catch-and-release rule for the selected water.
Water-Specific Summary
| Water | General 2026 treatment |
|---|---|
| Lake Koocanusa | Catch-and-release bull-trout fishing under the card rules. |
| Hungry Horse Reservoir | Limited harvest opportunity during the specified seasonal window; card notching and immediate recording apply. |
| Authorized South Fork section | Short July catch-and-release season with single-point-hook restrictions. |
All other Montana waters are closed to intentional bull-trout fishing. It is also unlawful to possess a live bull trout.
Before targeting bull trout, read the official 2026 Bull Trout Catch Card regulations PDF.
Paddlefish Licensing and Reporting
Paddlefish are not covered by the ordinary fishing-license stack alone. Montana uses separate paddlefish areas, tags and regulations.
- Select only one paddlefish area for the season.
- Obtain the correct area tag or permit.
- Validate the tag immediately when a paddlefish is harvested.
- Report harvested paddlefish within 48 hours.
- Check snagging, harvest and catch-and-release dates for the selected area.
2026 tagging transition: confirm the electronic or paper-tag process before travelling; older plastic-tag instructions may no longer apply.
Use the official Montana paddlefish regulations for area selection and reporting.
Montana Free Fishing Weekends
| Weekend | 2026 dates | What remains in force |
|---|---|---|
| Mother’s Day weekend | May 9–10, 2026 | Seasons, limits, gear, access and special permits |
| Father’s Day weekend | June 20–21, 2026 | Seasons, limits, gear, access and special permits |
License-free does not mean permit-free. Yellowstone, tribal, bull-trout, paddlefish, private-access and watercraft requirements can still apply.
Disability and Blind-License Options
Resident With a Disability
A permanently and substantially disabled Montana resident can apply for program certification. After approval, an eligible resident age 18–61 can purchase the reduced $10.50 season fishing component while still adding the required Conservation and AIS products.
Lifetime Fishing License for a Blind Resident
A qualifying blind Montana resident may apply for the $10 lifetime fishing license with the required medical certification. FWP states that the Conservation License is not a prerequisite for this particular lifetime product.
Apply before buying the ordinary product. Do not assume a later approval will create an automatic refund.
Review the official Montana disability-license programs before applying.
Match the License to the Trip
Fishing throughout the season
Standard complete price: $31 before the online fee.
Season fishing
$4 Conservation + $2 AIS + $10.50 fishing = $16.50.
One guided day
$10 Conservation + $7.50 AIS + $14 fishing = $31.50.
Five-day trip
$10 Conservation + $56 fishing; no Angler AIS fee. Total: $66.
Five-day fishing trip
Add the $10 nonmotorized vessel pass and complete the required prelaunch inspection.
Three-day park trip
Use the Yellowstone permit rather than buying a Montana state fishing license solely for inside-park fishing.
Montana Online License Troubleshooting
| Problem | Check first | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| ALS record cannot be found | Old license, legal name and date of birth | Use the lookup or contact Licensing before creating a duplicate. |
| Resident price is unavailable | ID issue date and electronic residency verification | Contact an FWP regional office with residency documents. |
| Old products appeared in the cart | Buy Items Again selections | Uncheck products that do not match the new trip. |
| Printing failed on phone or tablet | Saved receipt and emailed details | Use a desktop or laptop and the reprint workflow. |
| License missing in MyFWP | Correct login and linked ALS record | Reconnect while online and reload the active license. |
| Total is higher than expected | Conservation, Angler AIS, vessel pass and online fee | Compare the complete stack instead of the fishing component alone. |
| Printed license was lost | Saved PDF, email and Reprint Items | Reprint or load MyFWP rather than repurchasing. |
| Water has a new restriction | Current closure page and exact reach | Fish only another legally open water after checking its exceptions. |
FWP Support Script
“Hello, I need help with a Montana fishing license. The customer’s name is [name], date of birth is [date], and ALS number is [number, if known]. The customer is a [resident/nonresident], age [age], and plans to fish for [duration]. The issue is [ALS lookup, residency, cart, payment, printing, reprint or MyFWP]. What must be corrected before fishing?”
Official Montana License and Rule Links
This is an independent guide and is not operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Buy Online
Use after determining age, residency, duration and prerequisites.
Verify Fishing Prices
Check current Conservation, AIS and fishing components.
Load Mobile Proof
Link the ALS record and prepare offline access.
Find In-Person Sales
Locate an FWP office or authorized License Ambassador.
Read 2026 Regulations
Find the district and exact-water exception.
Check Live Closures
Review current hoot-owl restrictions and full closures.
Check AIS Rules
Use when transporting a boat, kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
Explore Waters and Access
Find fishing access and water-specific information.
Montana FWP Licensing Help
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks LicensingPhone: (406) 444-2950
Email: fwplic@mt.gov
Montana FWP Headquarters
1420 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Montana Fishing License FAQs
How much is a Montana resident fishing license in 2026?
A resident age 18 through 61 pays $31 for the normal season stack: $21 fishing, $8 Conservation License and $2 Angler AIS Prevention Pass.
How much is a Montana nonresident fishing license in 2026?
A nonresident age 16 or older normally pays $31.50 for one day, $73.50 for five consecutive days or $117.50 for the season, before the online service fee.
Who needs a Montana fishing license?
Anglers age 12 or older generally need the appropriate fishing license and Conservation License. Anglers age 16 or older also pay the Angler AIS fee.
Can I buy a Montana fishing license online?
Yes. Use Montana FWP’s Online Licensing System. Online transactions include a 2.9% plus $0.30 service fee.
Can I show my Montana fishing license on my phone?
Yes. MyFWP can display linked current licenses without cell service after the record has been loaded and the user remains signed in.
How long is a Montana season fishing license valid?
The license year runs from March 1 through the final day of the following February. A season license is not a 365-day license from purchase.
What is the Montana Conservation License?
It is an annual prerequisite for most fishing purchases and provides recreation access to most covered Montana state lands.
Does the angler AIS pass cover my boat?
No. A nonresident watercraft can require its own Vessel AIS Prevention Pass and must comply with inspection requirements.
Does a Montana fishing license work in Yellowstone National Park?
No. Fishing inside Yellowstone National Park requires the park’s fishing permit rather than a Montana state fishing license.
What is a Montana hoot-owl restriction?
It prohibits fishing from 2 p.m. until midnight on the water or river section named in the active restriction notice.
Final Montana Fishing Checklist
- The correct ALS customer record is being used.
- Resident or nonresident status is legally accurate.
- The correct age category is selected.
- The Conservation License is included once.
- The correct Angler AIS fee is included.
- The fishing duration covers every planned date.
- The online transaction fee is understood.
- The license was printed or loaded into MyFWP.
- Offline MyFWP access was tested.
- The correct Fishing District was identified.
- The exact water was checked in the Exceptions section.
- Current closures and hoot-owl restrictions were checked.
- Private-land permission was obtained when necessary.
- Yellowstone or tribal permits were checked.
- Bull-trout or paddlefish requirements were checked.
- The vessel AIS pass and inspection were completed when required.
Final authority: the issued FWP license, exact-water exception, current closure notice, and any applicable tribal, federal or special-species permit control over this third-party guide.