How buying a gun in Bozeman works
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Montana law allows.
Montana has no purchase permit, no registration and no waiting period. The dealer runs the federal background check when you complete ATF Form 4473. Federal age limits apply: 21 for a handgun from a dealer, 18 for a long gun. The firearm ships to the Montana dealer you name at checkout.
Dealers in these communities all work for Bozeman-area buyers:
- Belgrade
- Four Corners
- Manhattan
- Big Sky
- Livingston
- Three Forks
- Gallatin Gateway
- Churchill
Carrying a gun in Gallatin County
Montana has allowed permitless concealed carry since 2021 for adults 18 and over who are not prohibited, and open carry was already lawful. The concealed weapon permit is still issued by the Gallatin County Sheriff and adds reciprocity. Courthouses, schools, banks and posted property remain off limits.
Hunting near Bozeman
Montana's general rifle season for deer and elk runs five weeks and ends on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with archery from early September. Centerfire rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns are legal, and residents buy general deer licences over the counter while non-residents draw combination licences. Hunting districts set antlerless and mule deer buck rules, so read the current FWP regulations.
Gallatin County runs from the valley farms into the Bridgers, the Gallatins and Yellowstone's north edge; elk and mule deer in Region 3, grizzlies throughout, and a five-week rifle season ending after Thanksgiving.
Elk hunters here carry magnums and bear spray, and a .44 or .454 revolver on the belt is as much about grizzlies as about game.
Public shooting ranges near Bozeman
These ranges are run by or officially listed by a state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest. Most ask for a hunting licence, a range permit or a small day fee, and hours change with the season, so check the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency, state forest and U.S. Forest Service public range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.