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Republican Rep. Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls, sponsor of HB 367, introduces the proposed legislation during during a House Judiciary Committee on March 12, 2021.
Montana legislators heard testimony Friday on a bill that, if passed, would ask voters to amend language in the state constitution related to harvesting and managing wildlife.
House Bill 367 proposes to change the state constitution’s language to explicitly say Montanans have the right to hunt, fish, trap and harvest fish and wildlife with current methods. Currently, the constitution says the opportunity for citizens to harvest fish and wild game will forever be preserved.
Republican Rep. Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls introduced his bill during a House Judiciary Committee hearing Friday.
Leopold wolf following grizzly bear
A slate of bills making their way through Montana’s legislative session indicate a potential sea change in how the Treasure State will manage big carnivores and who gets a say in making those decisions.
Nicky Ouellet: Rachel, we’re halfway through Montana’s legislative session. Can you bring us up to speed on several bills that made it through the transmittal deadline that take aim at reducing the wolf population in Montana?
Rachel Cramer: Earlier this month, Montana’s Senate passed Senate Bill 314 from Sen. Bob Brown, a Republican from Thompson Falls, which would allow hunters and trappers to kill unlimited numbers of wolves on a single license. For context, the bag limit right now is five wolves per season whether someone has a trapping license, hunting license or both.
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This week, a new bill was introduced to the Montana House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee that would legalize the use of hounds for hunting black bears in Montana. House Bill 468, which is sponsored by Rep. Paul Fielder (R-Thompson Falls), would specifically allow hound hunting for black bears during the spring season, give “the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission authority to determine where hound hunting would be allowed” and establish a training season that would run from the end of hunting season through July 31, according to The Independent Record.
“In Montana, a person may take game birds, hunt mountain lions and hunt bobcats with the aid of a dog or dogs,” said Fielder during the committee meeting. “This bill simply adds black bears to the list of animals that may be hunted with a dog.”
A bill heard Tuesday from a Thompson Falls lawmaker would allow hound hunting for black bears in Montana.
Rep. Paul Fielder, a Republican, brought House Bill 468 to the House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee. The bill would allow hound hunting for black bears during the spring season and grants the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission authority to determine where hound hunting would be allowed. The legislation would also establish a training season to chase black bears from the end of hunting season until July 31.
Currently, black bears may only be hunted via spot-and-stalk hunting in the state during spring and fall seasons.
House Ag Committee discusses bill restricting bison transfers
Last updated 2/17/2021 at 11:50am
The Montana House of Representatives Agriculture Committee held a hearing Tuesday regarding a pair of bills that could slow or halt restoration efforts for bison in Montana. The first, House Bill 318, sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Holmlund R-Miles City would clarify that no bison that has been kept in captivity, is owned by someone or has been subject to per capita fees can be considered a wild bison. Holmlund and proponents of the bill, including representatives from the United Property Owners of Montana and the Montana Association of Counties, said this would further clarify what animals ca.