House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise the management and regulation of gray wolves and furbearers in Montana by defining gray wolves as furbearers and establishing new hunting regulations. The bill introduces Class E-1 and Class E-2 licenses for resident and nonresident hunters, respectively, specifically for hunting gray wolves. It amends existing laws to clarify the management process for gray wolves following their delisting from the endangered species list and prohibits hunting fur-bearing animals within city limits, from public highways, or using motion-tracking cameras. Additionally, the bill forbids the waste of gray wolf heads or pelts in the field and establishes penalties for violations of the new tagging offenses, which may include fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of hunting licenses.

The bill also includes several amendments to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), such as expanding the definition of furbearers to include gray wolves and revising the licensing process for hunting. It repeals certain outdated provisions related to wolf licenses and emphasizes the necessity of obtaining landowner permission before hunting on private property, outlining consequences for noncompliance. Overall, the bill aims to enhance wildlife protection and regulate hunting practices more effectively in Montana, ensuring sustainable management of gray wolves and furbearers.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-127, 87-2-601, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(1): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(2): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(3): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(4): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(5): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(6): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1(7): 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603
HB0101_1: 87-1-901, 87-2-101, 87-2-602, 87-2-603, 87-4-1001, 87-5-131, 87-6-101, 87-6-401, 87-6-402, 87-6-403, 87-6-405, 87-6-415, 87-6-603