Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to restrict the use of electronic motion-tracking devices and mechanisms while hunting in Montana. The bill amends Section 87-6-401 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to prohibit the use of such devices not only during hunting but also on the same calendar day that a person intends to hunt or has hunted. The definition of electronic motion-tracking devices is clarified to include any mechanism that relays information on the movement of game animals, fur-bearing animals, upland game birds, or migratory game birds to the hunter. Additionally, the bill prohibits communicating the location of these animals or birds to another person as an aid to hunting within the same day of using the tracking device.

The bill also maintains existing prohibitions on various hunting practices, such as the use of snares, recorded animal calls, and certain types of firearms and ammunition. Violations of these regulations can result in fines ranging from $50 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, and potential forfeiture of hunting licenses. The bill includes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval, emphasizing the urgency of implementing these restrictions to promote ethical hunting practices.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-6-401
SB0063_1(1): 87-6-401
SB0063_1(2): 87-6-401
SB0063_1(3): 87-6-401
SB0063_1(4): 87-6-401
SB0063_1(5): 87-6-401
SB0063_1(6): 87-6-401
SB0063_1(7): 87-6-401
SB0063_1: 87-6-401