HELENA – Do you plan to train your dog on wild game birds this season? If so, a bird dog training license is required, and you must abide by season dates when training on public land. 

This is the second year that this license has been required, after it was created during the last Montana legislative session. In addition, a slight change was made to the nonresident season dates (from a start date of Aug. 15 to a later start date of Sept. 1).  

Below are a few reminders: 

Who needs this license: 

Anyone training bird dogs on wild game birds needs to hold a bird dog training license, whether they are training on private or public land (note training season dates below for public land). 

How to obtain this license: 

• Licenses can be purchased online, at an FWP office, or at any license provider. 

  • Licenses are: $5 for any Montana resident over age 18 
                         $10 for any nonresident over age 18 

• Note: A special recreational use license (SRUL) from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) may be needed to train on state school trust lands. 

Public land bird dog training dates: 

• Resident training dates are Aug. 1-March 31. 

• Nonresident training dates are Sept. 1-March 31.