Montana Hunters First, Legislature Tackles Out of Stater Issue

Were there too many out of state hunters on the Hi Line in Montana this season? How big is the trespassing problem during the hunting season in Eastern Montana?

We did our statewide radio show from Malta about 2 years ago looking at those very concerns. Now, the Montana Legislature is advancing a bill called the "Montana Hunters First" bill that would look at this issue of out of state hunters.

State Rep. Courtenay Sprunger (R-Kalispell) tells me that the bill was inspired by her constituents in the hunting community who have shared their tremendous frustration. "As you may already know, out-of-state hunting pressures are rising, hunters are having reduced success in the field — and mule deer are almost non-existent in NW Montana where they were once plentiful."

House Bill 568 cleared the Montana Senate on a 49-1 vote. The bill must be concurred in the House and will then head to Governor Greg Gianforte for final approval.

According to a press release from Rep. Sprunger, the legislation directs the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) to conduct a comprehensive study on nonresident hunting impacts, land access trends, and hunting season structure statewide.

Rep. Sprunger: “Montanans are showing up to favorite trailheads and finding them packed with out-of-state plates. That experience—of feeling crowded out of your own backyard—is fueling frustration across the state. HB 568 is about securing our legacy, ensuring Montana hunters come first and balancing that priority with the very important reality of the revenue provided by our out-of-state guests.”

Here's some of the numbers Sprunger compiled:

• 3,500+ additional nonresident hunters
• Base license sales for nonresidents climbing from 58,254 in 2019 to 85,228 in 2023
• A decline of nearly 1 million acres in private land enrolled in the state’s Block Management Program since 2010, reducing access and concentrating hunting activity on fewer public lands
• Areas in eastern Montana (Regions 6 & 7) where nonresidents make up the majority of mule deer hunters;
• And a drop in resident hunter success rates despite an increase in days afield.

At the same time, her press release notes, 76% of FWP's license-generated revenue comes from nonresidents, funding critical programs including Block Management, Habitat Montana, and the operations of Montana’s game wardens.

Click here to read the full legislation.