Montana Code Annotated
Part 4. Hunting Offenses
87-6-405. Unlawful use of vehicle while hunting

87-6-405. Unlawful use of vehicle while hunting. (1) Except as provided in 87-2-803, a person may not hunt or attempt to hunt any game animal or game bird from any self-propelled, motor-driven, or drawn vehicle. For the purposes of this section, the term "hunt" does not include:
(a) spotting game from a vehicle; or
(b) if hunting on, from, or across a road or trail or the shoulder, berm, or barrow pit right-of-way of a road or trail that is not a public highway, as defined in 61-1-101, a person who has both feet on the ground and whose body is outside of a vehicle.
(2) While hunting, a person may not:
(a) use a motor-driven vehicle other than on a road or trail designated for travel by a landowner unless permission has been given by that landowner;
(b) use a motor-driven vehicle on a road or trail on state land if that road or trail is posted as closed by the land management agency unless permission has been given by that land management agency. The restriction in this subsection (2)(b) applies only to state land and not to federal land.
(c) use a motor-driven vehicle off road on state land.
(3) The following penalties apply for a violation of this section:
(a) A person convicted of or who forfeits bond or bail after being charged with a violation of subsection (1) 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 shall forfeit any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, and trap in this state for 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail unless the court imposes a longer period.
(b) A person convicted of or who forfeits bond or bail after being charged with a violation of subsection (2) 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 may be subject to forfeiture of any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, and 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.
(4) A violation of this section may also result in an order to pay restitution pursuant to 87-6-905 through 87-6-907.
History: En. Sec. 37, Ch. 258, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 408, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 449, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 128, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 552, L. 2021.

Structure Montana Code Annotated