What You Need To Know About Cattle Collisions In Montana

Ever Tell You About The Time Bison Made Me Late For Work?

Back around 10ish years ago, I lived on my cousins farm in Conrad, and worked as a bartender.  Heading out to my shift one afternoon, my drive was stalled due to my neighbor's bison running up and down the dirt road.

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Since I was basically driving a pop can, a Chrysler Sebring, I knew that if I got them too worked up, me and my car didn't stand a chance.  I also knew if I hurt one of the bison, I'd have to pay for it AND my car's damage.

So, I turned around and went the long way to work, and called to let the bar know Wylie's bison were making me late. "Yahoooo---ooo!"

Did You Know That In Most Cases, The Driver Is Liable For The Livestock?

In Montana, most of our state is known as open range or free range, meaning the cattle just wander around grazing. Totally legal and totally normal all over the state.

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If you hit any livestock, the driver of the vehicle is liable to replace the livestock killed.

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Montana Code Annotated 323: " a person owning, controlling, or in possession of livestock or a person owning property has no duty to keep livestock from wandering on highways and is not subject to liability for damages to any property or for injury to a person caused by an accident involving a motor vehicle and livestock unless the owner of the livestock or property was grossly negligent or engaged in intentional misconduct."

After the winter of 1887, from MSU Extension, if a rancher wanted hay just for his cattle, he was to fence the area and he would be liable for the cattle in the fenced area.

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