Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE

CHAPTER 6. FISH AND WILDLIFE CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 6. Trapping Offenses

Waste Of Fur-Bearing Animal

87-6-603. Waste of fur-bearing animal. (1) A person may not waste a fur-bearing animal by purposely or knowingly:

(a) failing to pick up traps or snares at the end of the trapping season so that the pelt of a fur-bearing animal is wasted;

(b) attending traps or snares so that fur-bearing animals are wasted; or

(c) wasting the pelt of any fur-bearing animal.

(2) The department shall enforce the provisions of this section.

(3) The following are exempt from this section:

(a) federal, state, and county predator control programs; and

(b) pelts of muskrat and beaver killed pursuant to 87-6-602(2).

(4) As used in this section, "pelt" means the pelt, skin, or fur of a fur-bearing animal.

(5) 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, a person, upon conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail, shall:

(a) 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

(b) pay restitution pursuant to 87-6-905 and 87-6-906.

History: En. Sec. 48, Ch. 258, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 128, Ch. 258, L. 2011.