House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise Montana's laws concerning gray wolves and furbearers by defining gray wolves as furbearers and establishing new hunting and trapping regulations. The bill introduces Class E-1 and Class E-2 licenses for resident and nonresident hunters, respectively, along with specific fees and conditions for obtaining these licenses. It amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate these changes and repeals outdated provisions related to resident and nonresident wolf licenses. The bill also outlines a management process for gray wolves following their delisting from the endangered species list, allowing for more flexible regulations based on regional populations.

In addition to defining terms such as "furbearer," "wildlife sanctuary," and "roadside menagerie," the bill emphasizes responsible wildlife management by prohibiting hunting fur-bearing animals within city limits, from public highways, or with motion-tracking cameras. It mandates that hunters do not waste gray wolf heads or pelts and introduces penalties for violations, including fines ranging from $50 to $1,000 and potential imprisonment for unlawful practices. Overall, the bill aims to modernize hunting regulations in Montana, ensuring clearer guidelines for hunters and enhancing wildlife protection efforts.

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