Hunters who want to hunt deer on the Marias River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) southwest of Shelby in Hunting District 406 must apply and submit their application online during the month of June.
Applicants must apply for one specific archery or one specific rifle hunt period. There are three archery hunt periods, each lasting approximately two weeks; three general season hunt periods, each lasting approximately one week; and two antlered buck permit hunt periods, each lasting one week. Applicants for the two antlered buck permit hunt periods must already possess either a 406-50 or a 406-51 antlered buck permit.
Hunters can submit applications beginning at 8 a.m. June 1 until 5 p.m. June 30. All drawing applications must be submitted electronically online either on the FWP web page at: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/access/marias-river-wma or at any FWP regional office.
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Public hunting access for all other species is open on the Marias River WMA without an access permit.
2026 archery season deer hunting periods
- 10 archery hunters for the first two weeks (Sept. 5–19)
- 10 archery hunters for the third and fourth weeks (Sept. 20–Oct. 3)
- 10 archery hunters for fifth and sixth weeks (Oct. 4–18)
2026 general season deer hunting periods
- 10 rifle hunters for the first week (Oct. 24–30)
- 10 rifle hunters for the second week (Oct. 31–Nov. 6)
- 10 rifle hunters for the third week (Nov. 7–15)
- 5 rifle hunters for the fourth week (Nov. 16–22)
- Must possess a 406-50 or 406-51 deer permit to apply.
- 5 rifle hunters for the fifth and final week (Nov. 23–29)
- Must possess a 406-50 or 406-51 deer permit to apply.
Application details and additional information
- Application must be made electronically beginning at 8 a.m. June 1, 2026. Persons may make electronic application at FWP regional offices.
- Application deadline is 5 p.m. June 30, 2026.
- Applicants must include their full name, address, phone number, valid email address, ALS number and desired hunt period.
- Incomplete applications will be removed from the drawing.
- Hunters may apply only once. Duplicate applications will be removed from the drawing.
- No party applications are accepted.
- The drawing will take place after June 30, 2026.
- There are three archery hunt periods, each approximately two weeks in length.
- Ten archery hunters are randomly chosen per two-week period.
- Ten general hunting season (rifle) hunters are randomly chosen for the first three general season (rifle) hunt periods, each seven to nine days in length.
- Five permit-season hunting (rifle) hunters are randomly chosen for hunt periods four and five, each seven days in length. Applicants for hunt periods four and five must possess either a 406-50 or a 406-51 deer permit.
- Hunt periods are not transferable.
- Successful applicants will be contacted by email with hunt access information and authorized permission prior to the start of the archery season.
- Successful applicants may use any deer license valid in Hunting District 406.
- All hunting will conform to the existing F&W Commission-established season structure in HD 406.
