MontanaHB 17569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Require fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report detailing data on hunting districts

Sponsored By: Shannon Maness (Republican)

Became Law

Fish and Wildlife

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Annual hunting and wildlife reports

Each year, the department publishes reports on hunting and wildlife. For every hunting district and region, it lists estimated resident and nonresident hunters, total days hunted, average days per hunter, and which species they hunted. It also posts a game count for each species and explains how the counts were made. Another report shows how many nonresident licenses were sold for each species and through which special programs. The department also reports sage grouse numbers, including leks, to the Sage Grouse Oversight Team and the Environmental Quality Council each year.

FWP controls fish and game funds

The department controls how money for fish and game work is spent. License fees, fines, gifts, seized-game sale money, and other proceeds are credited to the fish and game account in the state special revenue fund and are available for appropriation to the department. The department may sell property it no longer needs for fish and game work, and the money goes into the same account.

Only wardens enforce and tighter gun issuance

The department enforces Montana wildlife laws. Only wardens have authority to enforce laws or rules. The department may issue firearms only to wardens and other trained, certified staff who get final approval. Non-wardens may carry a department firearm only when their work requires it and must return it to secure storage when done.

Limits on firearm rules and bear tagging

The department cannot make broad rules on using or owning firearms, ammo, or accessories for hunting. Narrow exceptions still allow rules for special seasons, area safety, migratory birds, and some shotgun or rifle limits set in law. The department can also set rules for tagging, possessing, or moving bears, as long as rules follow state law.

Manage big game and open access

The department runs programs to avoid listing species under state or federal endangered laws and to help recover listed or sensitive species. It manages elk, deer, and antelope using habitat-based estimates and keeps herds at or below those targets. To meet elk harvest goals, it can ask land managers to open public lands and roads during big game season. The department can also run voluntary programs that encourage hunting access on private land.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Shannon Maness
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Tony Tezak
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 294 • No: 6

House vote • 3/24/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 49 • No: 1

House vote • 3/21/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 97 • No: 3

House vote • 2/4/2025