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69th Legislature 2025 HB 96
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 96
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT CREATING A TRAPPING APPRENTICE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM; REVISING THE APPRENTICE
HUNTING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE HUNTING AND TRAPPING; ESTABLISHING CRITERIA
FOR APPRENTICE AND MENTOR ELIGIBILITY; REVISING LICENSES AND TAGS THAT MAY BE
ACQUIRED BY AN APPRENTICE; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 87-2-105, 87-2-520, AND 87-2-810, MCA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 87-2-105, MCA, is amended to read:
"87-2-105. Hunter safety and education required. (1) Except for a youth who qualifies for a license
pursuant to 87-2-805(4) or a person who has been issued an apprentice hunting certificate pursuant to 87-2-
810, a hunting license may not be issued to a person born after January 1, 1985, unless the person authorized
to issue the license determines proof of completion of:
(a) a Montana hunter safety and education course established in subsection (4) or (6);
(b) a hunter safety course in any other state or province; or
(c) a Montana hunter safety and education course that qualifies the person for a provisional
certificate as provided in 87-2-126.
(2) A hunting license may not be issued to a member of the regular armed forces of the United
States or to a member of the armed forces of a foreign government attached to the armed forces of the United
States who is assigned to active duty in Montana and who is otherwise considered a resident under 87-2-
102(1) or to a member's spouse or dependent, as defined in 87-2-102, who resides in the member's household,
unless the person authorized to issue the license determines proof of completion of a hunter safety and
education course approved by the department or a hunter safety course in any state or province.
(3) A bow and arrow license may not be issued to a resident or nonresident unless the person
authorized to issue the license receives an archery license issued for a prior hunting season or determines
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proof of completion of a bowhunter education course from the national bowhunter education foundation or any
other bowhunter education program approved by the department. Neither the department nor the license agent
is required to provide records of past archery license purchases. As part of the department's bow and arrow
licensing procedures, the department shall notify the public regarding bowhunter education requirements.
(4) The department shall provide for a hunter safety and education course that includes instruction
in the safe handling of firearms and for that purpose may cooperate with any reputable organization having as
one of its objectives the promotion of hunter safety and education. The department may designate as an
instructor any person it finds to be competent to give instructions in hunter safety and education, including the
handling of firearms. A person appointed shall give the course of instruction and shall issue a certificate of
completion from Montana's hunter safety and education course to a person successfully completing the course.
(5) The department shall provide for a course of instruction from the national bowhunter education
foundation or any other bowhunter education program approved by the department and for that purpose may
cooperate with any reputable organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
handling of bow hunting tackle. The department may designate as an instructor any person it finds to be
competent to give bowhunter education instruction. A person appointed shall give the course of instruction and
shall issue a certificate of completion to a person successfully completing the course.
(6) The department may develop an adult hunter safety and education course.
(7) The department may adopt rules regarding how a person authorized to issue a license
determines proof of completion of a required course."
Section 2. Section 87-2-520, MCA, is amended to read:
"87-2-520. Supplemental game damage license -- terms and conditions. (1) If at any time the
department determines, in conjunction with a landowner or a designated lessee acting as an agent for a
landowner, that game animals on the property are causing a level of damage to crops or other vegetation that
merits removal of a specific number of game animals or that the taking of a specific number of game animals is
advisable for game management purposes, the department may issue nontransferable resident and
nonresident supplemental game damage hunting licenses for game management purposes on the property.
(2) Supplemental game damage hunting licenses may be issued only for antlerless animals and
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may be issued only for use on lands eligible for game damage assistance pursuant to 87-1-225. A landowner
may not charge a fee to a hunter using a license obtained pursuant to this section.
(3) Supplemental game damage licenses may be issued to hunters as an alternative to issuing a
kill permit to a landowner.
(4) (a) In a hunting district with unlimited license quotas, a landowner may designate the resident
supplemental game damage license recipient upon on approval of issuance, including a recipient who has
obtained an apprentice hunting certificate pursuant to 87-2-810.
(b) In a hunting district with limited permit quotas, a landowner may designate up to 75% of the
resident supplemental game damage license recipients, with the remainder of the licenses offered to hunters in
a manner prescribed by the department.
(5) If additional supplemental game damage licenses are available, the department may issue
those licenses to resident and nonresident hunters.
(6) A licensee shall pay the regular license price or an adjusted price set by the commission for
any supplemental game management license issued pursuant to subsection (1). Issuance of a supplemental
game damage license authorizes the licensee to hunt, take, and possess the game animal designated on the
license. All hunting under a supplemental game damage license must be conducted on the property designated
on the license and in accordance with department regulations."
Section 3. Section 87-2-810, MCA, is amended to read:
"87-2-810. Apprentice hunting certificate. (1) A person who is 10 years of age or older and who has
not completed a hunter safety and education course pursuant to 87-2-105 or a trapper education course
pursuant to 87-2-127 is eligible to use an apprentice hunting certificate that entitles the holder to obtain and use
hunting licenses and permits or a Class C or Class C-2 trapping license in accordance with this title and the
provisions of this section.
(2) A person may obtain an apprentice hunting certificate for no more than 2 license years before
the person shall complete a Montana hunter safety and education course pursuant to 87-2-105 to be eligible for
hunting licenses or a trapper education course pursuant to 87-2-127 to be eligible for trapping licenses.
Completing a Montana hunter safety and education course or a trapper education course prior to turning 12
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years of age does not preclude prevent a person who is at least 10 years of age from being eligible to obtain
and use hunting licenses pursuant to this section. As used in this subsection, "completing a Montana hunter
safety and education course" means passing a hunter safety and education course or a bowhunter education
course provided pursuant to 87-2-105(4) through (6), including the required test and field day.
(3) A person who obtains an apprentice hunting certificate must be in the company of a mentor
when hunting and trapping and shall conduct all hunting and trapping in accordance with this section and within
the terms and conditions of the license or permit issued.
(4) To qualify as a mentor who will accompany an apprentice hunter, a person must:
(a) be at least 21 years of age;
(b) if the apprentice hunter is under 18 years of age, be related to the apprentice hunter by blood,
adoption, or marriage, be the legal guardian of the apprentice hunter, or be a person designated by a parent or
legal guardian as being capable and qualified to assist the apprentice hunter;
(c) if serving as hunting mentor, have completed a hunter safety and education course pursuant to
87-2-105 and have a current hunting license;
(d) if serving as a trapping mentor, have completed a trapper education course pursuant to 87-2-
127 and have a current trapping license;
(d) have a current Montana hunting license;
(e) have agreed to accompany and supervise the apprentice hunter and remain within sight of and
direct voice contact with the apprentice hunter at all times while in the field; and
(f) confirm that the apprentice hunter possesses the physical and psychological capacity to safely
and ethically engage in hunting and trapping activities.
(5) Subject to the conditions of this section, the department shall issue an apprentice hunting
certificate upon on payment of a fee of $5. This fee must be deposited in the state special revenue fund
account to the credit of the department for hunter education purposes.
(6) The department shall issue an apprentice hunting certificate that allows an apprentice hunter to
be accompanied by multiple mentors.
(7) Except as provided in subsection (8), a person who obtains an apprentice hunting certificate
may purchase any unlimited hunting license or permit by any applicable deadline for the fee established
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pursuant to this chapter, including:
(a) a reduced cost license for which the applicant qualifies. An apprentice hunter who is under 12
years of age is eligible to obtain the unlimited reduced cost licenses available to a person who is 12 years of
age.
(b) a wild turkey tag if it is issued in an unlimited number.
(8) A person who obtains an apprentice hunting certificate is not eligible:
(a) to obtain a Class A-2 special bow and arrow license without having:
(i) completed a bowhunter education course; and
(ii) turned 12 years of age by January 16 of the license year;
(b) to obtain a black bear license;
(c) to obtain a mountain lion license;
(d) to obtain a Class D-3 resident hound training license;
(e) to obtain a wolf license;
(b) to obtain a black bear license;
(c) to obtain a mountain lion license;
(d) to obtain a Class D-3 resident hound training license;
(e) to obtain a wolf license;
(f)(f) to participate in a drawing with a limited quota; with a limited quota;
(g) to obtain a mountain sheep license in any area where the licenses are issued in unlimited
numbers; or
(h) to obtain an elk license if the apprentice hunter is under 15 years of age.
(g) to obtain a mountain sheep license in any are where the licenses are issued in unlimited
number; or
(h) to obtain an elk license if the apprentice hunter is under 15 years of age.
(9) An apprentice hunter who violates the terms of this section or a mentor who violates the terms
of this section while accompanying an apprentice hunter is subject to the loss of privileges granted by this
section for up to one full license season."
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I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 96, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 96
INTRODUCED BY P. FIELDER
BY REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS
AN ACT CREATING A TRAPPING APPRENTICE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM; REVISING THE APPRENTICE
HUNTING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE HUNTING AND TRAPPING; ESTABLISHING CRITERIA
FOR APPRENTICE AND MENTOR ELIGIBILITY; REVISING LICENSES AND TAGS THAT MAY BE ACQUIRED
BY AN APPRENTICE; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 87-2-105, 87-2-520, AND 87-2-810, MCA.