_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT authorizing landowner preference hunting licenses and permits for deer and antelope; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Landowner preference licenses and permits for deer and antelope. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) and the limitation in subsection (3), a person who owns 160 acres or more of real property that is primarily used for agricultural purposes in a hunting district in which a limited number of deer or antelope licenses or permits are awarded must be issued, on application, a license or permit to hunt deer or antelope in the hunting district under the terms and conditions of the license or permit.

(2)        When the real property is held jointly or in common by several persons, only one of the joint or common owners is entitled to the preference provided in this section, or the owners may designate their preference to a person who is an immediate family member or who is employed by the owner or owners as a land manager or in a similar capacity. Preference may not be awarded to a landowner if the hunting area is totally within the prescribed boundaries of public land.

(3)        Fifteen percent of limited licenses or permits available each year in a hunting district for deer or antelope must be available to landowners under this section. If the number of persons applying pursuant to this section exceeds 15% of licenses and permits available for that hunting district, the department shall award the licenses and permits by drawing. The department shall provide a method of selecting first, second, and third choice hunting districts if a drawing is required.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 87, chapter 2, part 7, and the provisions of Title 87, chapter 2, part 7, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.