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Read. Follow. Verify.Montana bill grants Fish and Wildlife Commission authority to set muzzleloader season dates and length
Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Wylie Galt
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What This Bill Proposed
Montana Senate Bill 403 authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to set the dates and length of the special muzzleloader heritage hunting season. Previously, the season structure was fixed by statute rather than determined directly by commission rule.
Changes who has the authority to schedule the muzzleloader heritage hunting season for deer and elk, moving the decision-making power from statutory law to the state wildlife commission.
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.
hunters
Fish and Wildlife Commission
The commission gains regulatory authority to set the dates and length of the muzzleloader heritage hunting season.
Key Facts
- The Fish and Wildlife Commission is given the authority to set the dates and length of the special muzzleloader heritage hunting season.
- During the special muzzleloader heritage hunting season, hunters with a valid license or permit may take a deer or elk using plain lead projectiles and an eligible muzzleloading rifle.
- Eligible muzzleloading rifles must be a minimum of 45 caliber, have no more than two barrels, use loose black powder or an equivalent substitute, and be ignited by specific traditional ignition mechanisms.
- The commission retains existing powers to fix seasons, bag limits, and possession limits across game species, and to establish special seasons for property damage control or youth fishing waters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who determines the dates and length of the muzzleloader heritage hunting season under this bill?
What firearms are permitted during the special muzzleloader heritage hunting season?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died in committee.
Procedural history
17 actions- May 23, 2025Senate(S) Died in Process
- Mar 12, 2025Senate(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Tabled in Committee
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) Bill Withdrawn
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) Hearing Canceled
- Feb 25, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
Show 11 earlier actions
- Feb 21, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Referred to Committee
- Feb 21, 2025Senate(S) 1st Reading
- Feb 21, 2025SenateIntroduced(S) Introduced
- Feb 21, 2025House(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Dec 27, 2024House(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Dec 27, 2024House(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Dec 26, 2024House(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Dec 24, 2024House(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Dec 20, 2024House(LC) Draft in Edit
- Dec 20, 2024House(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Dec 14, 2024House(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.
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Sources
bills.legmt.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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