Before you head afield, check Montana’s new bighorn sheep hunting closure and an access restriction near Arizona’s O’Leary Peak. An upper Big Hole River fishing closure has also been lifted, but other seasonal closures remain in effect.

Illustrative bighorn sheep in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park: NPS / Neal Herbert. National Park Service photo. This species photograph does not depict Hunting District 500 or the current closure. No claim to original U.S. Government works.

Hunting and Seasons

• Montana: HD 500 bighorn sheep hunting closes tonight: An October 21 notice says Hunting District 500 will close to all bighorn sheep hunting one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission (Montana Outdoor). If you hold a tag for this district, plan around that cutoff and review the linked Montana FWP hunting guide and current closure information before heading out (Montana Outdoor).

As you check your district’s current rules and prepare for an authorized hunt, browse our Hunting collection.

Fishing and Regulations

• Montana: upper Big Hole River reach reopens to fishing: An October 20 report says the low-flow fishing closure has been lifted from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road upstream to the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River after flows improved (Montana Outdoor). The closure began August 12 under the Big Hole River Drought Management Plan, but the report does not specify the reopening’s effective date (Montana Outdoor). Do not treat this as a river-wide reopening: yearly spawning-related fishing closures remain in effect on other sections of the Big Hole River (Montana Outdoor).

After checking the open reach and applicable fishing rules for your trip, explore our Fishing collection.

Trail and Access Closures

• Arizona: O’Leary Peak access restricted during road maintenance: Coconino National Forest’s closure extension runs October 21 through November 6, 2026, unless rescinded, and makes the O’Leary Peak access road inaccessible for hiking or driving (USDA Forest Service). For your route planning, the restricted area includes National Forest lands and roads within 300 feet of NPS Road 545, from the road’s gate east to the junction with Forest Road 545F (USDA Forest Service). The order protects public safety during road maintenance; follow the posted boundaries rather than trying to walk through the work area (USDA Forest Service).

Featured Gear: Review the Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp, Black/Grey as you plan your hiking and campsite lighting. Check its specifications against your needs before choosing your gear.

Stay up to date with the latest outdoor news every morning at lotzoutdoors.com. Shop gear for every adventure at shop.lotzoutdoors.com.