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 registration and no state waiting period. A dealer sale runs on ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS check at the counter. Federal ages apply: 18 for a lever-action rifle and 21 for a revolver. Bring a current photo ID showing your address. Cartridge belts, holsters and ammunition can ship to your door, which saves a long drive in the open country between towns.
Dealers in these communities all work for Billings-area buyers:
- Laurel
- Lockwood
- Shepherd
- Huntley
- Park City
- Worden
- Ballantine
- Molt
Carrying a gun in Yellowstone County
Since 2021 Montana has allowed anyone who may legally possess a firearm to carry concealed without a permit, inside and outside city limits, and open carry is legal. The Yellowstone County Sheriff still issues a concealed weapon permit, which helps when you travel to states that honor it. Federal buildings, some government offices and posted private property 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 archery in September and October, with a muzzleloader heritage season in December. Hunting districts set antler rules, B-license quotas and closures. A .30-30, .45-70 or .444 Marlin lever gun is legal for deer and black bear, and plenty of hunters carry one in timber. Check the FWP regulations for your district.
Billings sits among the region 5 hunting districts, with whitetail along the Yellowstone River and mule deer in the breaks. Public access comes through block management and BLM ground.
The river bottoms east and west of town hold whitetail, and the Bull Mountains and Missouri Breaks are a day trip for mule deer. A .30-30 or .45-70 fits the brushy cottonwood country well.
Public shooting ranges near Billings
The public ranges on the city pages are run or listed by a state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest, chosen by distance from each city. Fees, hours and allowed firearms are set by the agency or the club that manages the range.
Source: State wildlife agency and national forest range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.