How to Shoot in Montana: Permits, Locations, and Crew, Equipment, Travel, Casting & Talent!

Montana is one of the most visually varied places to film in the US, but shooting here takes planning. This guide covers permits, seasons, locations, logistics, and hiring local resources, from a Bozeman based production company that runs service production across the state.

Do you need a permit to film in Montana? It depends on where you shoot. Private land requires the owner's written permission. City and county locations may require local permits. State land, national forests, and national parks each have separate permitting. National Park Service sites such as Yellowstone and Glacier have their own commercial filming permit process, and the U.S. Forest Service permits commercial filming on national forest land. [Verify current processes and lead times with each agency and link the official pages.]

What its like filming across the Seasons

  • Spring: variable weather, generally starting to green at lower elevations in April with snow still in the high country until June.

  • Summer: gorgeous long days and easy access, beautiful time of year to shoot early morning or evening light! Late summer thunderstorms may be frequent!

  • Fall: strong fall colors going into October with chances for snow and early winter weather in November. Soft light and rapidly shortening days.

  • Winter: Crisp snow and dramatic light; roads and cold require planning for crew and gear. One of our favorite times of year to film!

Travel and lodging: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the main gateway for southwest Montana, followed by Butte's Regional Airport. For Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley, fly into Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell; for eastern Montana, the Beartooths, and Red Lodge, Billings Logan International Airport is the closest hub.

Incentives: This is an ever evolving and ongoing topic! We work closely with the state offices and your team team to ensure available Montana incentives are quickly secured.

Hiring local crew and logistics: Montana's crew base is small but seasoned, and word travels fast. Holds and bookings take a delicate touch, so let us make those calls. One coordinated ask keeps your schedule, rates, and relationships solid.

Equipment and rentals: Montana has a handful of rental houses, and in busy seasons demand can outpace supply. We can make things happen on short notice, but the earlier we see your project, the more we can secure locally.

What we can't source locally, we bring in. Specialty gear for camera, grip and electric, often ships from out of state, and many DP's prefer to travel camera packages with their bicoastal camera teams. We plan, package, and coordinate all rentals so it shows up ready to roll.

Montana equipment vendors we work with:

  • Southwest Montana (Bozeman & Butte area)

    • Rocky Mountain Grip & Electric: the state's most extensive and specialized rental house. Based in Bozeman: 1, 3, and 5-ton grip trucks and kits; HMI up to 18K, tungsten up to 20K, and LED (SkyPanel, Creamsource, Astera, Nanlux); a 250A tow plant and battery power; Sony Venice 2, RED V-Raptor, and Phantom VEO camera packages with Cooke and Fujinon Premista glass; a 40' Fraser crane, jibs, and dollies; drones and gimbals; UTVs; and a Pursuit Division for car-to-car work with a Porsche Cayenne and a Motocrane arm.

    • Filmlites Montana: grip and electric, and the states primary gennie and distro vendor. Based in Bozeman, serving Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming: pre-loaded 3, 5, and 10-ton grip trucks; HMI, tungsten, and LED lighting; quiet studio generators from 250A to 1400A plus tow plants; production vehicles; wind and fog effects.

  • Flathead Valley (Missoula/Kalispell / Whitefish)

    • Montana Video Production Rentals: pre-loaded grip and electric trucks (1-ton, 3-ton, 4-ton, no CDL), a camera truck with DIT station, a base camp box truck, a 600 sq ft cyc studio.

Casting: We can cast local talent several ways, street cast, run open casting calls, and pull from our own extensive contact sheet of Montana talent. We also partner with agencies like The Rocky Mountain Agency in Missoula, which represents models, actors, and real families and couples. Beyond Montana, we bring in talent from across the country and around the world, through whichever casting directors and agencies you, your agency, or your production company want to work with.

Drone Work: Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107 certification, and many public lands restrict or prohibit drones, including national parks.