About five miles northeast of Three Forks on Trident Road, the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin come together inside a state park and become the Missouri. The park stays open all year, so on a November morning the trailheads carry on as usual. The difference this year is that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks now caps how many people can hunt there on a given day, and the number is six.
Deer and elk general season opened October 24 and runs through November 29. On most open ground in the Gallatin Valley, nobody knows how many hunters are out on a given day. At the headwaters this fall, FWP sets that number a week in advance, and the rules control where those hunters can be and what they can carry.
The Cap That Arrived This Season
FWP announced the change on August 12, 2026. Hunting at the park now runs through a lottery. Anyone who wants to hunt fills out an online application the week before, choosing up to three possible days, and FWP draws up to six hunters at random for each day. The hunters selected get an email with the rules, a map of the safety zones and a tag for their vehicle. If they want to hunt in a later week, they apply again.
FWP's reason is simple. In its own words, "interest in hunting in the park grows alongside general park visitation," and the lottery is meant to keep every visitor safe while leaving the park open to hunting. Park manager Alice Southworth explained the approach in the FWP announcement:
"Missouri Headwaters State Park provides a variety of recreation opportunities for thousands of visitors each year. We're hopeful this new approach to managing hunting access in the park will help ensure visitor safety while maintaining the opportunities many people enjoy."
The Three Forks Voice covered the change on August 18, giving the same safety reason and the same six-hunter cap. The lottery runs for hunt dates from September 1 through January 15. After January 15, hunters stop by the visitor center during business hours for a permission slip.
Hunting and Other Park Visitors
The 2026 hunting map and rules sheet also sets limits on hunting inside the park.
Wednesday Runs the Calendar
Wednesday is the busiest day on the park's calendar. Every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the lottery opens for the following week's hunt days. Wednesday is also one of the few times horses are allowed. Otherwise horse use is prohibited until the December 1 through February 28 window, and trails close to everyone in wet conditions.
These are the remaining November draws on the FWP schedule, with the hunt days each one fills:
- Wednesday, November 4: hunts November 9 through 15
- Wednesday, November 11: hunts November 16 through 22
- Wednesday, November 18: hunts November 23 through 29
- Wednesday, November 25: hunts November 30 through December 6
The October 28 draw filled November 2 through 8, so the first week of the month was set before this post went up. Every week runs on the same cap, and FWP says it will contact selected hunters within 24 hours.
Which Seasons Overlap the Month
The rules sheet lists mule and whitetail deer, upland birds and waterfowl as the park's main hunting. FWP's 2026 dates show several seasons overlapping during November.
| Season | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Deer and elk general | Oct. 24 to Nov. 29 |
| Pheasant | Oct. 10 to Jan. 1 |
| Mountain grouse, partridge, sharp-tailed grouse | Sept. 1 to Jan. 1 |
| Pacific Flyway ducks, mergansers, coots, geese | Oct. 3 to Jan. 15 |
| Muzzleloader | Dec. 12 to 20 |
The Pacific Flyway waterfowl season dates run to January 15, and the park's lottery window ends on the same day. A statewide season date doesn't give anyone access to the park by itself.
A Walk With the Dog This Month
Fort Rock is a short walk for an afternoon. The Montana State Parks Foundation notes its historic pictographs, along with Lewis Rock and the park's interpretive displays. The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience lists the Fort Rock Trail Loop at 1.3 miles. FWP's own page describes foot trails out to points of interest and to the confluence.
Dogs are allowed. Montana State Parks requires them on a leash no longer than eight feet unless posted otherwise, and asks owners to clean up after them and keep them away from wildlife. In a November 2025 piece on sharing trails during hunting season, Bozeman Magazine suggested bright fluorescent clothing for people and an orange vest for dogs. That's common hunting-season practice, not a park requirement, and it costs nothing when the deer and pheasant seasons are open at the same time.
Some park logistics have also changed for the season. Campsite reservations have ended, so sites are first-come, first-served. Fees still apply year-round, and the potable water has been shut off. Bring your own water for a long loop. Montana residents who paid the $9 state parks fee with their vehicle registration pay no daily entrance fee. Questions about a specific day or trail go to the park at 406-285-3610.
These rules come from FWP and Montana State Parks and can change. This post is general information, not legal advice, so check the FWP park page and the 2026 hunting map and rules before you go.
Back in Town After Dark
November days are short, and the evenings in town stay busy. The Three Forks Chamber calendar lists Trick or Treat on Main Street on October 30, the day after this post goes up. Through November, the calendar has trivia at Bridger Brewing on November 4, 11, 18 and 25, all Wednesdays and the same days as the park's lottery draws. Woolzie's Willow Creek Cafe and Saloon has live music on November 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.
I spend a lot of November in the field with a Lab myself, and I know how much it helps to know who else is out there. If you're thinking about land near the headwaters, or anywhere in the valley where the hunting and fishing season shapes daily life, Tyler Garrison can walk you through it. Schedule a free consultation.
