Montana Closes LMU 320 to All Hunting of Female Mountain Lions

February 23, 2026
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Montana's Fish & Wildlife Commission just dropped a bombshell on big cat hunters: Lion Management Unit (LMU) 320 is now off-limits to pursuing female mountain lions starting one-half hour after sunset on February 21st, 2026. This isn't some minor tweak—it's a targeted shutdown on harvesting sows in a prime hunting zone, smack in the heart of cougar country where populations have been booming. For those who've tracked these stealthy predators across rugged terrain, this move signals a seismic shift in state wildlife policy, prioritizing reproductive protection over traditional harvest quotas. Picture this: LMU 320, nestled in Montana's wild interior, has long been a hotspot for houndsmen and riflemen chasing the thrill of the chase, but now, with females shielded after dark, evening hunts that once kept lion numbers in check are effectively neutered. Digging deeper, this closure reeks of creeping conservationism that's got 2A advocates on high alert. Mountain lion populations in the West have exploded—Montana alone boasts over 1,700 adults, up from historic lows—thanks to decades of hands-off management post-delisting from endangered status. Yet here we are, dialing back hunter access precisely when overpopulation threatens deer herds, elk calving grounds, and even livestock outfits struggling with depredation claims. It's a classic case of bureaucracy favoring furry icons over the sportsmen who fund conservation through tags and licenses. For the 2A community, this hits close to home: just as anti-gunners chip away at our carry rights under the guise of public safety, wildlife commissions are curtailing self-reliant hunters under the banner of sustainable populations. We've seen it before—spot quotas morph into outright bans, quotas into outright bans, and suddenly your bolt-action or lever gun gathers dust while bureaucrats play God with the food chain. The implications? Brace for ripple effects. Expect spillover pressure into adjacent LMUs, where hunters might pile on, spiking competition and costs, or worse, pushing lions into human zones for easier prey—including pets and porch-sitters. This isn't just about cougars; it's a preview of how incremental regs erode our outdoor sovereignty. 2A patriots, rally your state reps, flood commission meetings, and keep those scopes sighted—because if they can lock down lionesses in Montana, no game's truly safe from the nanny state. Stay vigilant, stay armed, and hunt on where you can.

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Montana’s Fish & Wildlife Commission just dropped a bombshell on big cat hunters: Lion Management Unit (LMU) 320 is now off-limits to pursuing female mountain lions starting one-half hour after sunset on February 21st, 2026. This isn’t some minor tweak—it’s a targeted shutdown on harvesting sows in a prime hunting zone, smack in the heart of cougar country where populations have been booming. For those who’ve tracked these stealthy predators across rugged terrain, this move signals a seismic shift in state wildlife policy, prioritizing reproductive protection over traditional harvest quotas. Picture this: LMU 320, nestled in Montana’s wild interior, has long been a hotspot for houndsmen and riflemen chasing the thrill of the chase, but now, with females shielded after dark, evening hunts that once kept lion numbers in check are effectively neutered.

Digging deeper, this closure reeks of creeping conservationism that’s got 2A advocates on high alert. Mountain lion populations in the West have exploded—Montana alone boasts over 1,700 adults, up from historic lows—thanks to decades of hands-off management post-delisting from endangered status. Yet here we are, dialing back hunter access precisely when overpopulation threatens deer herds, elk calving grounds, and even livestock outfits struggling with depredation claims. It’s a classic case of bureaucracy favoring furry icons over the sportsmen who fund conservation through tags and licenses. For the 2A community, this hits close to home: just as anti-gunners chip away at our carry rights under the guise of public safety, wildlife commissions are curtailing self-reliant hunters under the banner of sustainable populations. We’ve seen it before—spot quotas morph into outright bans, quotas into outright bans, and suddenly your bolt-action or lever gun gathers dust while bureaucrats play God with the food chain.

The implications? Brace for ripple effects. Expect spillover pressure into adjacent LMUs, where hunters might pile on, spiking competition and costs, or worse, pushing lions into human zones for easier prey—including pets and porch-sitters. This isn’t just about cougars; it’s a preview of how incremental regs erode our outdoor sovereignty. 2A patriots, rally your state reps, flood commission meetings, and keep those scopes sighted—because if they can lock down lionesses in Montana, no game’s truly safe from the nanny state. Stay vigilant, stay armed, and hunt on where you can.

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