Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE

CHAPTER 6. FISH AND WILDLIFE CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 3. Licensing, Tags, and Permits

License, Permit, Or Tag Offenses

87-6-304. License, permit, or tag offenses. (1) A person may not apply for, purchase, or possess more than one license, permit, or tag of any one class or more than one special license for any one species listed in 87-2-701. This provision does not apply to Class B-4, Class B-5, or Class E-2 licenses or to licenses issued under 87-2-104(3) for game management purposes. However, when more than one license, permit, or tag is authorized by the commission, a person may not apply for, purchase, or possess more licenses, permits, or tags than are authorized.

(2) The holder of a replacement license, permit, or tag may not make the replacement license, permit, or tag available for use by another person.

(3) Except as provided in 87-6-305(2), a person to whom a license or permit has been issued may not fish, hunt for any game bird or game animal, or attempt to hunt for any fur-bearing animal in this state unless the person is carrying the required license or permit at the time.

(4) A person may not refuse to exhibit a license or permit and the identification used in purchasing a license or permit for inspection to a warden or other officer requesting to see it.

(5) A person may not at any time alter or change a license in any material manner or loan or transfer any license to another person. A person other than the person to whom a license is issued may not use the license. A person may not attach the person's license to a game animal killed by another person.

(6) A person convicted of a violation of this section shall be fined not less than $50 or more than $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, except as provided in subsection (7), the person, upon conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail, may be subject to forfeiture of any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state or to use state lands, as defined in 77-1-101, for recreational purposes for a period of time set by the court.

(7) A person convicted under subsection (1), (2), or (5) of unlawfully procuring, possessing, using, or transferring a replacement license, permit, or tag shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail unless a court imposes a longer period. For each subsequent violation, the person shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for the same period of time imposed by the court for the person's previous violation plus an additional 24 months.

History: En. Sec. 25, Ch. 258, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 116, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 351, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 166, L. 2021.