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Read. Follow. Verify.Montana Legislature requests interim study on resident hunter satisfaction and nonresident hunting pressure
Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Sara Novak
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What This Bill Proposed
Montana lawmakers request an interim legislative study by September 15, 2026, to investigate resident hunter satisfaction regarding nonresident hunting pressure and to prepare potential bills for the 70th Legislature.
Residents face increased hunting pressure due to rising nonresident license sales and declining accessible acreage, prompting a formal review of licensing caps, fee adjustments, and crowding solutions.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
resident hunters
nonresident hunters
Nonresident hunters may face potential future restrictions on license allocations, permits, or season lengths based on study outcomes.
Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
The Department is tasked with providing data and potentially implementing a human dimensions study while managing potential revenue impacts.
Key Facts
- Nonresident base hunting license sales increased from 58,254 in 2019 to 85,228 in 2023.
- Annual nonresident deer and elk license allocation increased to greater than 60,000.
- Block management acreage available for public hunting access decreased by 17% from 2010 to 2021.
- The Legislative Council is requested to designate an interim or statutory committee to investigate resident hunter satisfaction by September 15, 2026.
Show all 7 facts
- The assigned committee must evaluate Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks data including license sales, hunter days, harvests, success rates, and animal populations.
- The study must evaluate potential solutions including reducing nonresident licenses, permits, and season lengths, and mitigating lost agency revenue.
- Final results of the study must be reported to the 70th Legislature in the form of introduced bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of Senate Joint Resolution 17?
When must the interim study be completed?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This resolution did not become law - Died on the Senate floor.
Procedural history
22 actions- May 23, 2025Senate(S) Died in Process
- Apr 2, 2025Senate(S) Motion
- Apr 1, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 1, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Signed
- Apr 1, 2025Senate(S) 3rd Reading
- Apr 1, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Show 16 earlier actions
- Apr 1, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Received
- Mar 31, 2025Senate(S) 2nd Reading
- Mar 31, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Mar 21, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Report
- Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Executive Action
- Feb 21, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
- Feb 20, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Referred to Committee
- Feb 20, 2025Senate(S) 1st Reading
- Feb 19, 2025SenateIntroduced(S) Introduced
- Feb 17, 2025House(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Feb 16, 2025House(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Feb 15, 2025House(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Feb 14, 2025House(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Feb 13, 2025House(LC) Draft in Edit
- Feb 13, 2025House(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Jan 1, 2025House(LC) Drafter Assigned
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Rising Nonresident License Sales
Reported an increase in nonresident base hunting license sales from 58,254 in 2019 to 85,228 in 2023.
Connected Entities
Sources
bills.legmt.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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