Planning a Montana camping adventure? Here’s a little money-saving tip I stumbled across recently (wish I’d known this years ago!)
If you’re 12 or older, you’ll need a Conservation License to access most state lands in Montana, including their Fishing Access Sites (FAS). But here’s where it gets interesting…
License Costs:
- Conservation License: Residents aged 18-61: $8; Seniors (62+): $4; Nonresidents: $10
- Fishing License: Residents: $21 for a season; Nonresidents: $100
- Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass (AISPP): Residents: $2; Nonresidents: $7.50
The Money-Saving Part
At many FAS sites, camping costs $12 per night without a fishing license but drops to just $7 with one. That’s a $5 discount every night you stay!
When Does It Make Sense?
For residents, getting a fishing license and AISPP will set you back $23 total ($21 + $2). With that $5 nightly discount, you’d need to camp about 5 nights to break even.
Bottom Line
If you’re planning to camp for 5+ nights at Montana’s Fishing Access Sites, grabbing a fishing license could actually save you money. Plus, hey, you might actually use it to catch dinner one night!
This post was originally drafted using both ChatGPT and Claude for research, organization and editing help. I’ve polished it up for better readability, but any factual errors are totally on me! Always double-check current fees before planning your trip.
Boneshakerbike 
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