Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. General Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Offenses -- Related Offenses
87-6-207. Unlawful use of boat

87-6-207. Unlawful use of boat. (1) A person may not use a motorboat or a sailboat as defined in 23-2-502 for the purpose of killing, capturing, taking, pursuing, concentrating, driving, or stirring up any upland game bird, migratory bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal until the motor is shut off or the sails are furled and the progress of the vessel has ceased.
(2) The following penalties apply for a violation of this section:
(a) Unless otherwise provided in this subsection (2), a person convicted of a violation of this section shall be fined not less than $50 or more than $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, the person, upon conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail, may be subject to forfeiture of any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state or to use state lands, as defined in 77-1-101, for recreational purposes for a period of time set by the court.
(b) If a person is convicted or forfeits bond or bail after being charged with unlawful use of a boat to kill or take a mountain sheep, moose, wild buffalo, caribou, mountain goat, black bear, or grizzly bear, the person shall be fined not less than $500 or more than $2,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, the person shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, recreational use, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for 30 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture unless the court imposes a longer period.
(c) If a person is convicted or forfeits bond or bail after being charged with unlawful use of a boat to kill or take a deer, antelope, elk, or mountain lion, the person shall be fined not less than $300 or more than $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, the person shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, recreational use, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture unless the court imposes a longer period.
(d) If a person is convicted or forfeits bond or bail after being charged with unlawful use of a boat to kill or take a fur-bearing animal, the person shall be fined not less than $100 or more than $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both. In addition, the person shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, recreational use, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture unless the court imposes a longer period, and any pelts possessed unlawfully must be confiscated.
History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 258, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 355, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 552, L. 2021.

Structure Montana Code Annotated