Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE

CHAPTER 6. FISH AND WILDLIFE CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 4. Hunting Offenses

Hunting Or Killing Over Limit

87-6-413. Hunting or killing over limit. (1) A person may not attempt to kill, take, shoot, or capture or kill, take, hunt, shoot, or capture more than one game animal of any one species in any 1 license year unless the killing of more than one game animal of that species has been authorized by regulations of the department.

(2) If a person is convicted or forfeits bond or bail after being charged with hunting or killing over the limit of:

(a) mountain sheep, moose, wild buffalo, caribou, mountain goat, black bear, or grizzly bear, the person shall be fined not less than $500 or more than $2,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, the person shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, recreational use, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for 30 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture unless the court imposes a longer period.

(b) deer, antelope, elk, or mountain lion, the person shall be fined not less than $300 or more than $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, 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 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture unless the court imposes a longer period.

(c) fur-bearing animal, the person shall be fined not less than $100 or more than $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, 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 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture unless the court imposes a longer period, and any pelts possessed unlawfully must be confiscated.

(3) A person convicted of unlawful taking of more than double the legal bag limit as described in this section may be subject to the additional penalties provided in 87-6-901 and 87-6-902.

(4) A violation of this section may also result in an order to pay restitution pursuant to 87-6-905 through 87-6-907.

History: En. Sec. 42, Ch. 258, L. 2011.