Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE

CHAPTER 6. FISH AND WILDLIFE CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 4. Hunting Offenses

Prohibition On Carcass Imports

87-6-420. Prohibition on carcass imports. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), it is unlawful to transport into this state the whole carcass or certain carcass parts of white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, or elk from states or provinces with documented occurrences of chronic wasting disease, as determined by the fish and wildlife commission, in wild populations or on private game farms.

(2) The following carcass parts may be transported into this state from the places described in subsection (1):

(a) meat that is cut and wrapped or meat that is boned out;

(b) quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached;

(c) hides with no heads attached;

(d) skull plates or antlers with no meat or tissue attached;

(e) skulls that have been boiled and cleaned to remove flesh and tissue;

(f) upper canine teeth; and

(g) head, partial body, or whole body mounts prepared by a taxidermist.

(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), a person convicted of a violation of this section shall be fined up to $500 or, upon conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail, may be subject to forfeiture of any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by the 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.

(b) Through January 31, 2019, a person who violates this section for the first time must be issued a warning and may not be fined. A person who commits a subsequent violation prior to January 31, 2019, is subject to the penalties provided in subsection (3)(a).

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 293, L. 2017.