Montana Hunting Trespass Penalties

HUNTING TRESPASS REGULATIONS IN MONTANA

There are two different Hunting trespass penalty codes:

First, MCA 87-6-415, regards failure to obtain landowner’s permission for hunting on private property,

Second, MCA 45-6-203, regards criminal trespass to private property, including FWP property or while hunting, fishing, or trapping.

87-6-415: Failure to obtain landowner’s permission for hunting:

(1) A resident or nonresident shall obtain permission of the landowner, the lessee, or their agents before taking or attempting to take game animals, migratory game birds, nongame wildlife, predatory animals, upland game birds, or wolves while hunting on private property.

(2) A person who violates this section shall, upon conviction for a first offense, be fined $135.

(3) A person convicted of a second offense of hunting on private property without obtaining permission of the landowner within 5 years shall be fined not less than $500 or more than $1,000.

(4) In addition, the person, upon conviction under subsection (3) or forfeiture of bond or bail:

(a) 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; and

(b) may be ordered to make restitution for property damage resulting from the violation in an amount and manner to be set by the court. The court shall determine the manner and amount of restitution after full consideration of the convicted person’s ability to pay the restitution. Upon good cause shown by the convicted person, the court may modify any previous order specifying the amount and manner of restitution. Full payment of the amount of restitution ordered must be made prior to the release of state jurisdiction over the person convicted.

45-6-203: Criminal trespass to property:

(1) Except as provided in 15-7-139, 70-16-111, and 76-13-116, a person commits the offense of criminal trespass to property if the person knowingly:

(a) enters or remains unlawfully in an occupied structure; or

(b) enters or remains unlawfully in or upon the premises of another.

(2) A person convicted of the offense of criminal trespass to property shall be fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for any term not to exceed 6 months, or both.

(3) A person convicted of or who forfeits bond or bail for committing an act of criminal trespass involving property owned or administered by the department of fish, wildlife, and parks or while hunting, fishing, or trapping may be subject to revocation of the person’s privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in this state for up to 24 months from the date of conviction or forfeiture.