Montana Hunters Need to Know About SB63 Now

• The 69th Montana Legislative Session is currently reviewing several bills involving sportsmen in the state
• One particular bill aims to deal with electronic devices for use during hunting seasons in Montana
• New wording would affect Section 87-6-401, MCA regarding hunting regulations within the state of Montana

The Old Hunter in Me Hates Some of the New Technology Being Used

As a lifelong hunter, albeit a few years in between several hunts over the years, there are certain things that I have never thought would make a difference in whether I put meat on the table for my family.

via GIPHY

Sure, I have headed out early to scout, or maybe glassed ridges afar during the off-season, but other than good old wandering through the timber or coulees of Montana, I haven't had a need for fancy equipment.  Except for a better pair of eyeglasses perhaps.

New Bill in Montana Legislature May Change Electronics for Hunting Enthusiasts

A new bill is up in the Montana Legislature for this session which includes some of that newfangled technology being used for hunting purposes.  Section 87-6-401, MCA defines unlawful use of equipment.

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Original wording in the law included the following in regard to using electronic tracking devices while hunting:

(d) while hunting, use any electronic motion-tracking device or mechanism, as defined by commission rule, that is designed to track the motion of a game animal and relay information on the animal's movement to the hunter.

SB63 aims to change that wording to be more specific when referring to "game animal".

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Defining What a Game Animal is in the Montana Wild

New wording for the change in law being introduced would significantly change the definition of game animal in the state.  In the proposed bill, this new subsection would instead read:

(d) while hunting or within the same calendar day that a person intends to hunt or has hunted, use any electronic motion-tracking device or mechanism, as defined by commission rule, that relays information on the movement of any game animal, fur-bearing animal, upland game bird, or migratory game bird to the hunter. A person may not communicate the location of any game animal, fur-bearing animal, upland game bird, or migratory game bird to another person as an aid to hunting within the same calendar day of using an electronic motion-tracking device or mechanism to locate the animal or bird.

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You can find out more about the proposed bill here.  Information about the Montana Legislature bills being presented can be found here.