GREAT FALLS – More and more hunters are hunting for black bears in central Montana each year. It's easy to understand why – it's a great opportunity to get outside during both spring and fall seasons, bear meat is great table fare, and licenses in Region 4 are available over the counter. Changes to bear regulations this year have brought up questions from some hunters about bear numbers and bear harvest in the region.
FWP's management goal is to have stable, well distributed, black bear populations throughout Region 4 and to maintain long term hunter-harvest opportunity. Black bear populations are especially sensitive to female mortality, which is why our biologists keep such a close eye on female bear harvest each year. Black bear harvest has increased, likely due to increasing hunter participation and effort from both residents and nonresidents, extended length of the spring bear season, and the recent introduction of spring hound-hunting opportunity.
However, estimating bear population numbers and trends is difficult. In 2011, FWP researchers used a combination of radio collaring, DNA analysis, and habitat modeling to estimate the number of female bears that can be harvested in a bear management unit ("BMU") without driving populations down. When Region 4 biologists looked at female bear harvest during recent seasons, the research data suggested that bear harvest may now exceed sustainable levels, especially in areas around the Little Belt and Snowy Mountains. FWP also completed a new, more sophisticated research project in R4 that will produce even more accurate bear population estimates in the future.
For 2026, the Fish and Wildlife Commission made changes to both statewide and Region 4 bear regulations to lower the likelihood of overharvesting female bears. Region 4 was divided into four Bear Management Units (BMUs), which are designed to include discrete and largely disconnected areas of black bear habitat. Additionally, the commission established spring and fall female harvest quotas for each BMU so that when a certain number of female bears are harvested, all bear hunting will close for the spring or fall season in that unit.
Hunters can check a BMU's quota status before hunting by calling 1-800-385-7826 or on FWP's website at: myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/speciesHuntingGuide?wmrSpeciesCd=BB
All successful black bear hunters must personally report their black bear harvest within 48 hours by calling 1-877-FWPWILD or 1-877-397-9453 or 406-444-0356 or through the MyFWP portal at fwp.mt.gov
Quota Status/Closures.................800-385-7826 or 406-444-1989