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 Yellowstone breaks and in the Bull Mountains; many districts need permits drawn in spring.
Montana has no purchase permit and permitless carry, and ranch families here keep a pistol in the truck and a rifle for the breaks in November; the general rifle season opens October 24, 2026.
Public shooting ranges near Billings
The public ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies and state forests near the cities we cover. Most ask for a hunting or fishing license, an access permit or a small daily fee, and some close for the season, so check the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.