Black bear season ends June 15

Starting June 1, black bear seasons in several bear management units will be subject to a new quota process for the remaining two weeks of the season.  

Following regulations passed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in February, black bear season in BMUs 100, 101, 103, 104, 110, 120, 121, 122, 123, 140, 141, 150, 170, 300, 301, 319, 400 and 580 are subject to close if the cumulative spring harvest exceeds 37 percent female black bears.  

Many other BMUs have specific female harvest quotas, which will prompt a closure if met before June 15. Hunters can check the current quota status here. 

The closures are made upon a 48-hour notice from the time the harvest is reported. For instance, in BMU 140, 24 black bears were reported as of Friday morning. Currently, the cumulative harvest is 37.5 percent female. If no other male bears are reported in BMU 140 before Saturday morning, FWP will issue closure notice to go into effect 30 minutes after sunset on June 3.  

All harvested black bears must be reported to the harvest report hotline or online within 48 hours of harvest. The number to report harvests is 1-877-FWP-WILD, or through your MyFWP portal. In FWP Region 1, which is northwest Montana, hunters must also submit two premolars within in 10 days of harvest. Physical inspections of harvested bears are not required in Region 1, although an inspection is required in all other regions. More information can be found in the 2024 Black Bear regulations. 

Unless a BMU is closed due to quota, spring black bear season closes statewide on June 15.