Roundup Mule Deer Hunt Opens Nov. 30, With 50 Archery Licenses at $10

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the City of Roundup scheduled an archery-only mule deer hunt from Nov. 30 to Feb. 15, 2027, with 50 licenses on sale Nov. 4.

The hunt, described in a release published Oct. 23, 2026, is meant to reduce the number of urban deer in and around Roundup. The 50 either-sex mule deer licenses go on sale Wednesday, limited to two per person. They are Roundup management deer B licenses, open to residents and non-residents, and they do not count toward a hunter’s yearly limit of deer B licenses.

The price is $10 for residents and $75 for non-residents. Buyers need a current Conservation License, Base Hunting License, and Bow & Arrow License. Online sales begin at 5 a.m., and in-person sales begin at regular business hours.

FWP, the Roundup City Council, the Mayor and the Musselshell County Commissioners developed the City of Roundup Deer Management Plan in 2014, after high deer numbers caused property damage and safety concerns. The hunt has been held every year since. The 2025 hunt sold 50 licenses and hunters harvested 5 does. Success rates have ranged from 7 to 18 percent since 2014.

Some hunters found urban deer more challenging to hunt, as the animals are becoming increasingly wary of people. City officials and the Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office have seen fewer deer conflicts and vehicle-deer collisions since the hunt began.

Hunting takes place on designated property owned by the City of Roundup and Musselshell County, and the city may assign hunters to specific sites. Hunters must get permission from the Roundup City Offices at 406-323-2804. The offices are at 34 3rd Ave. West and open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hunters must report their harvest to the same office and number. They must also bag deer viscera and carcass parts and dispose of them at the Roundup Landfill, where no fee is charged to hunters who show their city permission slip. Only archery equipment, as defined in the 2026 Deer, Elk and Antelope hunting regulations, is allowed.