Require mandatory reporting of deer and elk hunting activity

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69th Legislature 2025 HB 564.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 564
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 564
2 INTRODUCED BY M. MARLER
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4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REQUIRING HUNTERS TO REPORT HUNTING ACTIVITY FOR
5 DEER AND ELK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS; PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR
6 REPORTING AND PENALTIES FOR NONREPORTING; ESTABLISHING DEADLINES; REQUIRING THE
7 DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO COLLECT REPORTING INFORMATION; PROVIDING
8 RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; DEFINING "HUNTING ACTIVITY"; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE
9 DATE.”
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11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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13 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Mandatory reporting of deer and elk hunting activity -- bonus point -
14- administrative fee -- rulemaking. (1) A person who holds a hunting license for deer or elk shall report to the
15 department their hunting activity for each animal during the license year.
16 (2) A person who completes reporting of their hunting activity by February 15 of the license year in
17 which the person purchased a deer or elk license may choose to receive one bonus point for either a deer or
18 elk upon completion and submission of the report.
19 (3) A person who does not complete reporting of their hunting activity prior to the end of the
20 license year in which the person purchased a deer or elk license will be assessed an administrative fee of no
21 less than $5 and no more than $50, subject to determination by the department. The fee must be paid prior to
22 the purchase of or upon purchasing a base hunting license for the coming license year. A hunter may not be
23 required to pay more than one administrative fee for all reporting violations during a license year.
24 (4) The validation of an electronic tag pursuant to 87-2-119 does not satisfy the reporting
25 requirements of this section.
26 (5) The department shall develop a system for collecting and retaining mandatory hunting activity
27 reports. The department shall provide physical reporting forms, if applicable for carrying out the provisions of
28 this section.
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 564.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 564
1 (6) The department may make rules to implement this section.
2 (7) As used in this section, "hunting activity" includes harvest success, hunting district locations,
3 dates during which hunting occurred, and any other pertinent hunting information as determined by the
4 department.
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6 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
7 integral part of Title 87, chapter 2, part 1, and the provisions of Title 87, chapter 2, part 1, apply to [section 1].
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9 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective March 1, 2026.
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