Montana: The Treasure State

The Treasure State Is a Sight to Behold

Dirt Legal has long been a huge proponent of Montana. After all, we do most of our work through Montana, who has long been a bastion of sensibility in a sea of difficult, expensive, and downright impossible states to title and register vehicles through. With zero percent sales tax, it is no wonder thousands of people every year use our services to get their vehicles titled, tagged, and on the road wearing Montana license plates. 

Standard Mountain views of Montana.

But Montana is not a car title vending machine. It is one of the most beautiful places on planet earth, filled with some of the heartiest people you could ever meet. There are still plenty of descendents of those original rugged pioneers who found the land and called it home. Today, we’re going to walk through the incredible State of Montana and see what makes it such an appealing place to call home. 

Living in Montana

Montana represents one of the few last places in the U.S. that is really wild. Montana ranks #4 in terms of area, really not a lot smaller than California (147,040 sq miles to 163,696 sq miles). Yet, Montana ranks at a lowly 44th in population, with only a little over 1.1 million people in the state. 

And it’s not that hard to understand why: Montana is rugged! Roughly two-fifths of the entire state is made up of the Rocky Mountains, while the remaining three-fifths (the eastern portion) are part of the Great Plains. 

Both sections of the state will test the endurance and toughness of men, animals, and machines. It is because of this that Montana ranks as the third-lowest population density in the U.S. behind Alaska and neighboring Wyoming. The state averages over 200 days of frost or freezing per year, and the scant rainfall totals (barely over a foot per year on average) make it a tough place to grow crops. 

The Appeal of Montana's Wide Open Spaces

But the views in Montana make it all worth it. The Rockies are one of, if not the most picturesque mountain ranges in the world, and with so few people in the state, you get a whole lot more of them at your disposal. 

But the Great Plains shouldn’t be disrespected, either. The Plains have a haunting beauty all their own, and with the big game that abounds in Montana, you will see things that you will never forget. There are still a few thousands bison in the wilds of Montana, along with countless elk, loads of moose, and of course, wolves. 

But it isn’t just a state for watching wildlife. One of the coolest things about Montana is that they have long been friendly to the off-road community. They were one of the first states that allowed OHVs to be titled and tagged as street-legal vehicles, and have been doing this for a long time. 

But also, if you are as seasoned as I am, you will remember that Montana also removed speed limits entirely from interstates back in the late 90s. This, of course, ruffled feathers with other states, and eventually Montana went back to speed limits, but this was a real cultural shift and it showed their openness to including all kinds of vehicles on their roadways. 

Maybe it was just meant to be that Montana plates would end up on so many exotic sports cars…

Hunting in Montana

One of the favorite pastimes of Montanans is spending time outdoors. And while in the great outdoors, hunting and fishing is one of the best things to do in Montana. In fact, it is also one of the major contributors to the entire economy of Montana. According to the Flathead Beacon (I love the name), 

“Hunting and shooting contributed $93 million to Montana's outdoor recreation gross domestic product in 2017, while guided tours and outfitters contributed $74 million, according to a 2019 Headwaters Economics report.” 

Big Game Hunting

Montana is a big game hunting haven, and there are numerous big game in Montana to set your sights on. 

These include:

• Antelope

• Bighorn sheep

• Bison

• Black bear

• Deer

• Elk

• Moose

• Mountain goat

• And wolf

It’s hard to imagine a place with better access to a more diverse game than Montana, not to mention with a better view. 

Bird Hunting and Small Game

But big game hunting isn’t the only game in town. Montana is also home to some of the best bird hunting out there, along with small game and good old-fashioned trapping. 

Montana has a full lineup of foul, from Snipes and Doves to all of the typical waterfowl. Also, Montana has Swan, Sandhill Crane, Turkey, and upland game birds populating the state. 

Fishing in Montana

Montana may not get a lot of rainfall, but the freezing snowmelt from their formidable chunk of the Rockies keeps rivers and streams full of the clearest water you have ever seen in your life. Is it a brisk 45°? Occasionally. Better wear your waders. 

Fly Fishing Paradise

Montana is a well-known fly fishing paradise, and we are here for it. 

Montana fly fishing targets trout, which populate the waterways there in huge numbers. You will run into brown trout, cutthroat trout, and of course, rainbow. Tens of thousands of anglers head to Montana every year to the tune of millions of dollars. 

But it is more than just an economic driver. Fishing is more than a pastime; it is part of the state’s very identity. The locals have been doing this for generations, but with each new visitor, favorite stretches of rivers and fishing holes get fished out. It makes sense that the locals don’t really take too kindly to this. Who would blame them? Your quiet little state gets overrun by overzealous out-of-state fishermen who may not adhere to the unwritten rules (or the written rules) of the land. 

Lake and Stream Fishing

All kinds of species live in the rivers and lakes of Montana, giving some of the most spectacular backdrops in the world, and some of the best eating in the world, too. Walleye is very popular in the eastern reservoirs, and stretches of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. Of course, this is only one of many species in these lakes, and like fly fishing, river and reservoir fishing brings in a lot of tourism. 

It’s tough to pin down exactly how much revenue comes directly from fishing, but Montana tourism brings in around $5 billion annually, and half of those visitors come in the summer months. Take away from this what you will, and the percentage from fishing alone is not detailed, but a lot of those guys who are visiting in the summer are probably fishing, on top of the locals who are already spending their money on the sport.

Parting Thoughts

Montana is a national treasure. No matter what you like, whether it is off-roading, direct biking, snowmobiling, hunting & fishing, or just enjoying the great views and watching nature unfold. We have been there every step of the way helping thousands of people use Montana’s tax-free sales tax status to save unbelievable amounts of money over the years, and we want to help you do the same! You can enjoy all that Montana has to offer, all while we title and tag your car and save you thousands.