Montana Gun Laws

Montana is another state which operates on a “Shall Issue” policy. Compared to other states, Montana is very permissive. You must be 18 and a resident to obtain a permit and the applications are processed on a local level by the county sheriff’s office..

Concealed carry is legally allowed without a permit if you’re outside a city or town if you’re in doing the following activities:

Logging
Mining
Camp
Fishing
Hunting
Hiking
Farming
Backpacking

Montana Gun Laws Quick Facts

Open Carry Permitted?	Yes!
Carry In Vehicle?	Yes!
Carry In State Park?	Yes!
Carry In Restaurants?	Yes!
Constitutional Carry?	No
No Weapon Sign Enforced?	No
Must Notify Officer?	No

Montana CCW Reciprocity List

States Honoring Montana CCW

States NOT Honoring Montana CCW

Montana Honors These States CCW

How Reciprocity Works In Montana

Any individual who has a permit to conceal carry in another reciprocal U.S. state is legally allowed to carry a firearm in Montana. During their time in Montana, they will be subject to the laws of the county and state.

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Montana: Where Is CCW Allowed?

Places Allowed

State parks
State and national forests
Road side rest areas
Vehicles
All areas of the state – except those listed below

Places Not Allowed

Any room where alcoholic beverages are sold, dispensed and consumed.
Any building that is leased by a local school district and used for instruction or student activities.
Portions of a building used for state or local government offices and related areas in the building that have been restricted.
A bank, credit union, savings and loan institution, or similar institution during the institution’s normal business hours. It is not an offense under this section to carry a concealed weapon while;
- using an institution’s drive-up window, automatic teller machine, or unstaffed night depository; or
- at or near a branch office of an institution in a mall, grocery store, or other place unless the person is inside the enclosure used for the institution’s financial services or is using the institution’s financial services.
On trains.
Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law.

Montana: Conceal Carry Laws

Open Carry

YES – Without a Permit/License Open carry in Montana is legal and accepted. However, be aware that it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit in cities or towns. Concealed is defined as a handgun or a knife with a blade 4 or more inches in length that is wholly or partially covered by the clothing or wearing apparel of the person carrying or bearing the weapon. It is legal to carry a concealed weapon outside city or town limits without a permit.

Carry In Vehicle

YES – Without a Permit/License With no permit you can carry concealed outside of cities and towns. This applies in or out of a vehicle. In a city or town then a loaded firearm must be in the glove box or console. The Issue is whether or not the firearm is concealed (see open carry section). If you have a permit then you can carry concealed in a vehicle.

Carry In State Parks

YES

You are permitted to carry in state parks, state forests, WMA’s and roadside rest areas.

Carry In Restaurants

YES/NO – In Restaurants That Serve Alcohol You cannot carry a concealed firearm in a restaurant but it is legal to carry openly in restaurants that serve alcohol. “Yes” or “No” states if you can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol. Some restaurants may be posted with “NO GUN” signs. Check with the staff if this means just the bar area. If we have indicated a “Yes” then it should be legal to have a meal without drinking alcohol.

Constitutional Carry

No Weapon Signs Enforced

NO “No Weapons” signs are not mentioned in Montana gun laws. There are no legal penalties for entering a private property or business that has posted these signs. They have no force of law unless they are posted in areas that are mentioned in the law as being off limits.

Must Notify Officer

NO – Must Inform Officer on Contact By Law Montana gun laws do not state you have to inform a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a firearm or carry a permit if you are a resident. If you are using a permit from another state that Montana honors then the law says you must be carrying your permit/license and ID.