New this year, Montana upland game bird hunters have a 10-day head start on nonresident hunters. As a result of Senate Bill 514, passed during the 2025 legislative session, nonresident upland game bird hunters using private lands enrolled in FWP hunting access programs -- including block management – or hunting on public lands may not begin hunting until 10 days later than resident upland bird hunters for all upland species except mountain grouse (blue, spruce [Franklin] and ruffed grouse).