Montana 2026 License Changes
March 1, 2026 begins the new license year for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. As of February 10, 2026, all Montana fishing licenses, conservation permits, and hunting licenses must be purchased online directly through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). This change affects every business that formerly sold Montana FWP licenses.
What this means for you:
- Dan Bailey's Outdoor Company cannot directly sell you a license or permit, but we are still here to assist you as a Montana License Ambassador.
- As a MT FWP License Ambassador, we can support our community in purchasing licenses. We have a kiosk and computer available at the shop to help you purchase a license online, but every individual must purchase their own license with a credit or debit card through the MT FWP Licensing System online.
- We strongly recommend that you purchase your license online prior to your fishing trip.
Conservation Licenses
EVERYONE 12 AND OLDER must purchase a Montana Conservation License to access Montana State lands, including recreation areas for fishing and boating. A Montana Conservation license comes with every fishing license. Non-anglers may purchase a Conservation License online.
Yellowstone National Park Fishing Licenses
You must purchase a separate license to fish in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Dan Bailey's can directly sell you a YNP license at the shop, or you can purchase one online at recreation.gov.
NOTE: The National Park Service also changed the seasons on three popular fisheries within Yellowstone National Park in response to increasingly routine river closures due to warm water temperatures and low river flows in the summer. The Firehole, Gibbon and Madison rivers within the park will open May 1 for fishing access, weeks in advance of the standard fishing season. The season on the Firehole, Gibbon, Madison and all rivers in the park will end on the standard closure date for all fisheries in the Park, Oct. 31.