How buying a gun in Billings 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 state registration and no waiting period. A dealer sale runs through ATF Form 4473 and a federal NICS check at the receiving FFL. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Bring a valid photo ID showing your current Montana address. Montana does not license gun owners. Ammunition, optics and parts can ship straight to your door, which matters in rural counties where the nearest gun counter is a long drive.
Dealers in these communities all work for Billings-area buyers:
- Laurel
- Lockwood
- Shepherd
- Huntley
- Park City
- Columbus
- Worden
- Molt
Carrying a gun in Yellowstone County
Since 2021, Montana has allowed anyone who may legally possess a firearm to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, both inside and outside city limits. The county sheriff still issues a concealed weapon permit, which is useful for reciprocity in other states. Apply with the sheriff in your county of residence and show proof of an approved firearms safety course. Some places, such as federal buildings and certain posted properties, remain off limits, so check the rules where you are going.
Hunting near Billings
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks runs the general deer and elk rifle season from October 24 through November 29, 2026, after an archery-only season in September and October and a two-day youth deer hunt. A muzzleloader heritage season follows in December. Hunting districts set antler rules, B-license quotas and closures, and many districts require permits drawn in spring. Centerfire rifles are standard for elk and deer. Check the FWP regulations for your hunting district before the opener.
Billings sits in FWP Region 5, with mule deer, whitetails and antelope on the breaks along the Yellowstone River and in the Bull Mountains to the north. Many districts need permits drawn in spring, so check the FWP district map.
Ranch families around Billings often keep a varmint rifle and a shotgun close for livestock and predators, and a deer rifle for the breaks in November. The general rifle season opens October 24, 2026.
Public shooting ranges near Billings
These public ranges are run by state wildlife agencies and state forests in the states we serve. Many are free; some staffed facilities charge a daily fee, and hours change with the seasons, so check with the agency before you go.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (LDWF, MDWFP, WVDNR, Wisconsin DNR, ND Game and Fish, SD GFP, NH Fish and Game, Maine IF&W, Vermont Fish and Wildlife), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.