Senate Bill No. [number], introduced by W. Curdy, aims to revise laws related to trapping setbacks on public lands in Montana. The bill establishes specific setback requirements for trapping activities, mandating that traps for furbearers, predators, and nongame wildlife be set back 50 feet from roads and hiking trails, 1,000 feet from designated campgrounds or recreation sites, and 300 feet from marked trailheads, with lethal traps requiring a 1,000-foot setback from trailheads. For wolves, the bill specifies a 150-foot setback from roads and trails, a 1,000-foot setback from designated sites, and a 500-foot setback from high recreational use trails or roads. The bill also allows the commission to expand these distances in high-use areas and establishes that setbacks do not apply to roads closed year-round to motor vehicles.

Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate these new setback requirements into the regulations governing trapping and snaring offenses. It specifies that traps must be tagged and set in accordance with the new setback requirements, and it outlines penalties for violations, including fines and potential forfeiture of hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses. The bill is intended to enhance wildlife protection and public safety by regulating trapping activities in proximity to recreational areas.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1(1): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1(2): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1(3): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1(4): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1(5): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1(6): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_1: 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(1): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(2): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(3): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(4): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(5): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(6): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(7): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2(8): 87-1-301, 87-6-601
SB0427_2: 87-1-301, 87-6-601