BluePrintSAR

Montana State SAR

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Montana Search and Rescue

Who leads searches in Montana, how agencies request state help, and the resources behind them. Verified items link to their source. Reviewed November 2026.

Emergency: call 911. State 24-hour contact: 24/7 Duty Officer (406) 431-0411 · Office (406) 324-4777. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Montana

The county sheriff leads search and rescue. State law says the sheriff takes charge of and supervises search and rescue units whenever they are called into service, and county SAR units work under the sheriff's operational control.

  1. State 24-hour contact24/7 Duty Officer (406) 431-0411 · Office (406) 324-4777.
  2. Requesting state resourcesWhen the incident is beyond local capability, the local emergency management agency (county DES coordinator) requests state help from Montana DES through the 24/7 Duty Officer (406-431-0411).

Want to write the request out before you call? Use the request builder. Official agency: Montana DES ↗.

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

56counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Montana (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Montana

  1. Step 1In an emergency call 911. Agencies needing SAR contact the sheriff of the county where the person is missing; the sheriff calls out the county SAR units.
  2. Step 2The sheriff may ask neighboring counties' SAR units for help directly.
  3. Step 3When the incident is beyond local capability, the local emergency management agency (county DES coordinator) requests state help from Montana DES through the 24/7 Duty Officer (406-431-0411).
  4. Step 4For a missing or overdue civil aircraft, call MDT Aeronautics (406-444-2506, weekdays 8–5). After hours call Montana Highway Patrol dispatch (406-841-7022) and ask for the Aeronautics Duty Officer.
  5. Step 5Afterward, the sheriff's office or SAR unit can submit mission costs to the state SAR account using the DES online reimbursement form.

Law and authority

MCA 7-32-2121(11), Duties of sheriff

The sheriff must take charge of and supervise search and rescue units and their officers whenever they are called into service.

Read the source ↗

MCA 7-32-235, Search and rescue units authorized

A county may set up or recognize SAR units. They work under the operational control of the sheriff or the sheriff's designee. Counties may levy a voter-approved tax for SAR. Sheriffs may let Civil Air Patrol members, including cadets, take part.

Read the source ↗

MCA 7-32-236, Account for SAR unit training and support

A state account funded by gifts and donations. Sheriffs may ask it for extra training, support or equipment for their SAR units.

Read the source ↗

MCA 10-3-801, Search and rescue account

State account run by DES only for SAR. At least half pays local mission costs (up to $12,000 per mission); the rest can fund equipment (65% state / 35% local) or volunteer training.

Read the source ↗

MCA 67-2-105, Air search and rescue volunteers

Volunteers helping MDT search for a missing aircraft are treated as MDT employees for workers' compensation, and may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Montana.

Resources by discipline

What each resource does, how it is requested in Montana, and the standards that apply.

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Montana

Loading counts…

Counts are directory category listings, not unique organizations, personnel or available assets. Informational canine placeholders are excluded. Organizations can appear in several categories; canine specialty subtotals can overlap.

Aviation (ANG / State)

Sheriffs lead SAR; Two Bear Air Rescue, Army Guard hoist crews in Helena and Billings, Malmstrom's 40th Helicopter Squadron and Civil Air Patrol are requested through the sheriff, state DES or the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

How to request

In Montana, aircraft are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

There is no Montana statute setting SAR aircrew qualifications. Guard crews follow Army aviation and hoist training; the Montana Army Guard began instructor certification on a new hoist patient-stabilization system in July 2026, after which every medic, crew chief, hoist operator and pilot involved in hoists is to be qualified and then trained recurrently. Civil Air Patrol crews follow CAP national standards.

Montana Aviation (ANG / State) directory

Canine (K9)

No state certification: search dog teams work under county sheriffs and report certifying through Tri-State K9.

How to request

In Montana the county sheriff runs searches and takes charge of every SAR unit called into service (MCA 7-32-2121).

Standards and policy

Montana does not certify SAR dogs. Volunteer teams report certifying through Tri-State K9, a multi-state K9 SAR group, with a separate test for each discipline and recertification every two years. Requirements can also differ by county.

Montana Canine (K9) directory

Cave & Mine Rescue

Volunteer specialists

Specialists for rescues in caves and mines, where rope work, tight passages and communications make ordinary rescue methods hard.

Who provides it in Montana

Cave rescuers serve on local rescue squads and cave rescue groups. The National Cave Rescue Commission (part of the National Speleological Society) trains them and tracks cave rescue resources and specialized equipment. Montana is in the NCRC Rocky Mountain Region. Accidents at working mines fall under the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

How to request

Call 911. The agency with jurisdiction requests cave rescuers and can reach the NCRC regional coordinator listed on the NCRC staff page. Report an accident at a working mine to MSHA at 1-800-746-1553.

Standards and policy

NCRC national cave rescue curriculum: Orientation to Cave Rescue, Level 1 Team Member and Level 2 Team Leader.

Montana Cave & Mine Rescue directory NCRC about ↗ NCRC regional coordinators ↗ MSHA emergency contact ↗

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: yes (MCA 10-4-118, signed May 3, 2021). 4 agencies and resources listed, each checked against an official source in November 2026.

How to request

In Montana, only the law enforcement agency running the search can ask a carrier for a phone's location.

Standards and policy

There is no single national certification for cell phone analysis in searches; agencies and labs set their own training requirements.

Montana Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Coast Guard district and 1 sector covering Montana, plus 8 state, local and volunteer marine units, each checked against a cited source in November 2026.

How to request

In Montana, call 911 or VHF-FM Channel 16 for a maritime emergency.

Standards and policy

Coast Guard and Auxiliary crews qualify under Coast Guard training programs; local marine units follow the standards their agency sets.

Montana Coast Guard Auxiliary directory

Communication

National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 3 state and volunteer radio systems and groups, including the statewide public safety radio system. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Montana, the agency running the search sets the radio plan.

Standards and policy

Communications unit leaders (COML) and technicians (COMT) train through CISA courses and state credentialing; volunteers hold FCC amateur licenses.

Montana Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

5 public safety dive and water search resources listed, each checked against a cited source in November 2026.

How to request

In Montana, start with the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Public safety dive teams commonly train to NFPA 1006 (technical rescue personnel qualifications), which covers dive rescue; each team’s sponsoring agency sets its own certification requirements.

Montana Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

State drone law: MCA 46-5-109. 6 agency drone programs listed, each checked against a published source in November 2026.

How to request

In Montana, drone teams are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Part 107 pilots complete FAA recurrent training every 24 months; agency programs set their own proficiency standards.

Montana Drone / UAS directory

National Guard

Governor-activated

Military helicopters and personnel for hoist rescue, aerial search and ground support when civilian resources can’t do the job.

Who provides it in Montana

The Montana National Guard (Army and Air), activated in state status by the Governor.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through Montana DES. NWCG’s helicopter extraction list directs 911 and dispatch centers to coordinate requests for military, Coast Guard and National Guard aircraft through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at 800-851-3051.

Standards and policy

State active duty under the Governor’s authority; Guard aircraft used for SAR are coordinated with the rescue coordination center.

Montana National Guard directory Montana National Guard (official) ↗ State Guard websites (National Guard Bureau) ↗ Montana DES ↗ Helicopter extraction source list (NWCG PMS 512) ↗

Mantracking

Sheriff SAR units

Trackers who find and follow a missing person’s footprints and other sign on the ground.

Who provides it in Montana

Ground searchers on county sheriff search and rescue units. The state ESF-9 annex lists manpower for ground searches among the resources county sheriff’s offices provide through the sheriffs’ association.

How to request

The agency running the search requests trackers, usually alongside ground search teams; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

ASTM F2852, Standard Practice for Training a Land Search Tracker, sets minimum training for trackers supporting a land search. FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) references ASTM F2209 for land search team members.

Montana Mantracking directory ASTM F2852 (tracker training) ↗ FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

Marine & Boating Law Enforcement

State boating agency

Officers and boats on lakes, rivers and coastal waters who respond to boating emergencies and support water searches.

Who provides it in Montana

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as Montana’s boating law agency (boating safety, enforcement and registration).

How to request

Call 911 for a water emergency; the agency with jurisdiction requests marine units through dispatch.

Standards and policy

State boating laws. NASBLA promotes uniform state boating laws and their enforcement (U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division).

Montana Marine / FWP Patrol directory Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks ↗ NASBLA Montana boating contacts ↗ State boating laws (USCG Boating Safety) ↗

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

The county sheriff leads search and rescue.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. Agencies needing SAR contact the sheriff of the county where the person is missing; the sheriff calls out the county SAR units.

Standards and policy

No statewide SAR member certification. Each sheriff and county SAR unit sets its own standards.

Montana Sheriff / Law Enforcement directory

State Parks

State agency

The state park system, whose staff know park terrain and trails and support searches on park land.

Who provides it in Montana

Montana State Parks. The National Association of State Park Directors lists this as the official park-system website.

How to request

For an emergency in a park, call 911. Park staff support the agency with jurisdiction; see who leads searches at the top of this page.

Standards and policy

Park rules and staff authority are set by the state park agency; see its website.

Montana State Parks & FWP directory Montana State Parks (official) ↗ State park directory (America’s State Parks) ↗

Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

Sheriff and fire teams

Teams that search for and rescue people and animals in swiftwater and floods, from shore and by boat.

Who provides it in Montana

County sheriff search and rescue units and fire departments. For example, Missoula County lists swift water operations, jet boats and ice rescue for its sheriff’s SAR units, and the Billings Fire Department and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office handle Yellowstone River rescues together.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests water rescue through 911 dispatch. When local teams are exceeded, help is requested through Montana DES.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1020), which provides shore-based and boat-based water rescue, basic life support and animal rescue.

Montana Swiftwater directory FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗ Montana DES ↗

Technical Mountain Rescue

MRA teams listed

Teams for steep, high-angle and alpine terrain that use rope systems to reach and evacuate people.

Who provides it in Montana

Mountain Rescue Association member teams based in Montana: Ravalli Search and Rescue (regular member); Glacier National Park is an ex officio member.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests the team, usually through 911 dispatch; see who leads searches above. Help from outside the area is requested through Montana DES.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Mountain Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1171) for low mountain, mountain and alpine environments. The MRA lists member teams by region with their membership status.

Montana Technical Mountain Rescue directory MRA Inter Mountain Region teams ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)

No FEMA task force is based in Montana; federal teams come through FEMA. State resources and nearby FEMA task forces are listed in the directory.

How to request

In Montana, US&R teams are requested by the agency in charge of the incident, through the state emergency management agency when local resources run short.

Standards and policy

FEMA task forces train to FEMA and NFPA standards; state and regional teams follow the standards their sponsor sets.

Montana USAR (FEMA / State Task Force) directory

Federal lands (Forest Service and National Park Service)

Federal land manager

Federal land agencies whose staff support searches on national forests, grasslands and parks.

Who provides it in Montana

National forests and grasslands in Montana on the Forest Service’s list: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest; Bitterroot National Forest; Caribou-Targhee National Forest; Custer Gallatin National Forest; Flathead National Forest; Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest; Idaho Panhandle National Forests; Kootenai National Forest; Lolo National Forest. The National Park Service lists 10 park sites in Montana.

How to request

Searches on national forest land are led by the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction (in most states, the county sheriff), with the Forest Service supporting under cooperative agreements. In a national park, call 911 or the park’s emergency line; the NPS will make reasonable efforts to search for lost persons, using its own staff or partner SAR organizations under formal agreements.

Standards and policy

NPS Management Policies 2006, §8.2.5.3: SAR runs under the Incident Command System and visitors are not charged for it.

Montana National Forests (USFS) directory NPS sites in Montana ↗ Forest Service units by state ↗ USDA testimony on sheriff SAR agreements ↗ NPS SAR policy excerpt ↗

UTV & ATV Units

Sheriff SAR units

Off-road vehicles, including UTVs, ATVs and e-bikes, that move searchers and equipment and carry out injured people over rough trails.

Who provides it in Montana

County sheriff search and rescue units. For example, Missoula County Search and Rescue lists snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles among its resources, and the state ESF-9 annex lists snowmobiles and other specialty craft from county sheriff’s offices.

How to request

The agency running the search requests vehicle units; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) includes ground vehicles for support, transportation and evacuation in land and wilderness searches.

Montana UTV & ATV / Snowmachines directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

56-county directory

Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. For an emergency, call 911.

All 56 phone numbers verified (2026-10) against the agency’s own site, a government directory, or a sheriffs’ association or IACP directory; each “Verified” link shows the source. For an emergency, call 911.

JurisdictionAgencyPhone
Beaverhead CountyBeaverhead County Sheriff’s Office(406) 683-3700
sheriff’s office main and non-emergency dispatch line (county sheriff page, Oct 2026) · Verified
Big Horn CountyBig Horn County Sheriff’s Office(406) 665-9780
main and non-emergency dispatch, 24 hours · Verified
Blaine CountyBlaine County Sheriff’s Office(406) 357-3260
main line and dispatch · Verified
Broadwater CountyBroadwater County Sheriff’s Office(406) 266-3441
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Carbon CountyCarbon County Sheriff’s Office(406) 446-1234
sheriff’s office line (county contacts page; also county PSAP) · Verified
Carter CountyCarter County Sheriff’s Office(406) 775-8743
sheriff and coroner line (Montana Judicial Branch county resource guide) · Verified
Cascade CountyCascade County Sheriff’s Office(406) 454-6979
non-emergency sheriff’s dispatch (main 406-454-6820) · Verified
Chouteau CountyChouteau County Sheriff’s Office(406) 622-5451
sheriff’s office / 911 line (MT DOJ PSAP list, Jul 2026) · Verified
Custer CountyCuster County Sheriff’s Office(406) 874-3320
sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Daniels CountyDaniels County Sheriff’s Office(406) 487-2691
county dispatch, non-emergency · Verified
Dawson CountyDawson County Sheriff’s Office(406) 377-5291
sheriff’s office line (county website) · Verified
Deer Lodge CountyAnaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Department(406) 563-5241
Anaconda-Deer Lodge 911 contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Fallon CountyFallon County Sheriff’s Office(406) 778-7101
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Fergus CountyFergus County Sheriff’s Office(406) 535-3415
sheriff’s office line (toll-free 877-361-3014) · Verified
Flathead CountyFlathead County Sheriff’s Office(406) 758-5585
sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Gallatin CountyGallatin County Sheriff’s Office(406) 582-2100
sheriff’s office non-emergency line · Verified
Garfield CountyGarfield County Sheriff’s Office(406) 557-2540
sheriff’s office line (county department contacts) · Verified
Glacier CountyGlacier County Sheriff’s Office(406) 873-2711
sheriff’s communications line (MT DOJ PSAP list, Jul 2026) · Verified
Golden Valley CountyGolden Valley County Sheriff’s Office(406) 632-5614
Wheatland-Golden Valley 911 contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Granite CountyGranite County Sheriff’s Office(406) 859-3251
sheriff’s office contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Hill CountyHill County Sheriff’s Office(406) 265-2512
sheriff’s office line (MT DOJ PSAP list, Jul 2026) · Verified
Jefferson CountyJefferson County Sheriff’s Office(406) 225-4075
24/7 non-emergency · Verified
Judith Basin CountyJudith Basin County Sheriff’s Office(406) 566-2212 ext. 215
dispatcher, non-emergency (weekday hours) · Verified
Lake CountyLake County Sheriff’s Office(406) 883-7301
Lake County Dispatch (Montana DOJ PSAP list, July 2026) · Verified
Lewis and Clark CountyLewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office(406) 457-8866
Helena–Lewis & Clark County 911 center, non-emergency · Verified
Liberty CountyLiberty County Sheriff’s Office(406) 759-5171
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Lincoln CountyLincoln County Sheriff’s Office(406) 293-4112
Lincoln County Sheriff / Libby PSAP (Montana DOJ PSAP list, July 2026) · Verified
Madison CountyMadison County Sheriff’s Office(406) 843-5301
sheriff’s office main line · Verified
McCone CountyMcCone County Sheriff’s Office(406) 485-3405
sheriff’s office non-emergency line · Verified
Meagher CountyMeagher County Sheriff’s Office(406) 547-3397
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Mineral CountyMineral County Sheriff’s Office(406) 822-3555
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Missoula CountyMissoula County Sheriff’s Office(406) 258-4810
sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Musselshell CountyMusselshell County Sheriff’s Office(406) 323-1402
county dispatch, non-emergency · Verified
Park CountyPark County Sheriff’s Office(406) 222-2050
non-emergency dispatch · Verified
Petroleum CountyPetroleum County Sheriff’s Office(406) 429-6551
sheriff’s office line (Montana Judicial Branch county resource guide, Jan 2024) · Verified
Phillips CountyPhillips County Sheriff’s Office(406) 654-2350
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Pondera CountyPondera County Sheriff’s Office(406) 271-4040
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Powder River CountyPowder River County Sheriff’s Office(406) 436-2333
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Powell CountyPowell County Sheriff’s Office(406) 846-2711
county 911 center; sheriff’s non-emergency line per county site (Montana DOJ PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Prairie CountyPrairie County Sheriff’s Office(406) 635-5738
sheriff’s office line · Verified
Ravalli CountyRavalli County Sheriff’s Office(406) 363-3033
county dispatch, non-emergency · Verified
Richland CountyRichland County Sheriff’s Office(406) 433-2919
sheriff’s office line · Verified
Roosevelt CountyRoosevelt County Sheriff’s Office(406) 653-6242
sheriff’s office contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Rosebud CountyRosebud County Sheriff’s Office(406) 346-2715
Rosebud County Sheriff / PSAP (Montana DOJ PSAP list, July 2026) · Verified
Sanders CountySanders County Sheriff’s Office(406) 827-3584
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office (Montana DOJ PSAP list, July 2026) · Verified
Sheridan CountySheridan County Sheriff’s Office(406) 765-1200
sheriff’s office contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Silver Bow CountyButte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department(406) 497-1120
Butte-Silver Bow 911 contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Stillwater CountyStillwater County Sheriff’s Office(406) 322-5326
sheriff’s office line (county directory) · Verified
Sweet Grass CountySweet Grass County Sheriff’s Office(406) 932-5143
sheriff’s office line · Verified
Teton CountyTeton County Sheriff’s Office(406) 466-5781
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Toole CountyToole County Sheriff’s Office(406) 434-5585
county 911 center contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Treasure CountyTreasure County Sheriff’s Office(406) 346-2715
Rosebud-Treasure 911 contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Valley CountyValley County Sheriff’s Office(406) 228-4333
sheriff’s office contact line (Montana DOJ Text-911 PSAP registry, June 2023) · Verified
Wheatland CountyWheatland County Sheriff’s Office(406) 632-5614
Wheatland County PSAP (Montana DOJ PSAP list, July 2026) · Verified
Wibaux CountyWibaux County Sheriff’s Office(406) 778-7101
Fallon County dispatch center, which serves Wibaux County (Montana DOJ PSAP list, July 2026) · Verified
Yellowstone CountyYellowstone County Sheriff’s Office(406) 256-2929
sheriff’s office administration line (non-emergency per site: 406-657-8200) · Verified
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