House bill NO. 600

INTRODUCED BY M. Malone, J. Schillinger, P. Fielder, B. Ler, B. Phalen

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING ACREAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDOWNER PREFERENCE HUNTING LICENSES; AMENDING SECTION 87-2-516, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 87-2-516, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-2-516. Drawing for Class A-9 and Class B-12 antlerless elk B tag licenses -- landowner preference. (1) In the event the number of valid applications for Class A-9 resident antlerless elk B tag licenses or Class B-12 nonresident antlerless elk B tag licenses for a hunting district exceeds the quota set by the department for the district, the department shall award the permits by a drawing.

(2)        Subject to the limitations of subsection (4), in a hunting district where Class A-9 and Class B-12 licenses are issued, a corresponding Class A-9 or B-12 license must be issued, on application, to persons who:

(a)        own or have contracted to purchase 640 160 acres or more of contiguous land, at least some of which is used by elk; or

(b)        own 160 acres or more of contiguous production agricultural land on which the department documented elk game damage within the last 2 years.

(3)        A landowner who is eligible to receive a Class A-9 or Class B-12 license under subsection (2) may designate an immediate family member or a person employed by the landowner to apply for the license. A corporation owning qualifying land under subsection (2) may designate one of its shareholders to apply for the Class A-9 or Class B-12 license.

(4)        Subject to the management provisions provided in 87-1-321 through 87-1-325, 15% of the Class A-9 and Class B-12 licenses available each year in a hunting district must be available to landowners pursuant to subsection (2)."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.