Montana Fishing Licenses Go Fully Online in 2026: What Anglers Should Know

Beginning March 1st 2026, Montana fishing licenses are no longer available for in-person purchase. All licenses must now be purchased online through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

For anglers who are used to walking into a fly shop or sporting goods store before a trip, this is something to be aware of. The process itself isn’t complicated, but it does require planning ahead.

Why the Change?

Montana’s licensing system has been operating on outdated infrastructure for years. Much of the state’s hardware and software was built on older technology that is no longer supported or repairable.

Rather than continue patching an aging system, the state moved to a fully digital platform.

The transition allows Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to modernize license management, simplify reporting requirements, and improve data tracking for conservation. It also reduces printing and administrative costs across the state.

For anglers, it means adjusting how and when licenses are purchased.

What This Means for Visiting Anglers

The biggest difference is this: anglers cannot purchase a fishing license in person anymore.

Licenses must be purchased online through the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website. Once purchased, your license is stored digitally in your FWP account.

You can carry a digital copy on your phone or print one before traveling.

For anglers planning a Montana fly fishing trip, you will need:

• Conservation License
  • Nonresident cost: $10
  • Montana resident cost: $8
  • Youth 12–17 & senior 62+ resident cost: $4
• AIS License
  • $7.50 for nonresidents
  • $2 for Montana residents
  • Does not apply to youth ages 15 and younger
• Base Fishing License
  • 1-day nonresident license (can be purchased incrementally): $14
  • 5 consecutive calendar days (nonresident): $56
  • Full season nonresident: $100
  • Full season resident: $21

How to Purchase Your Montana Fishing License Online

1. Go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website.
2. Create an account or log in to your existing FWP account if you have had an MT fishing license before.
3. Add your Conservation & AIS Licenses.
4. Add your Base Fishing License.
5. Complete payment and download your digital license.
6. After purchasing, save a copy to your phone as a pdf or screenshot

Why Anglers Should Handle This Before You Travel

The days of grabbing a fishing license in person the morning before a guided trip are over.

If you arrive without one, you’ll need to go online and complete the purchase before fishing.

Cell service can be inconsistent on many of our local rivers, and creating an account at a boat ramp isn’t ideal. FWP's website outages and inconsistencies can add additional frustration as well.

The simplest solution is to purchase your license a week to a few days before your trip.

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