87-3-102. Waste of fish or game. (1) A person who is responsible for the death of a mountain lion commits the offense of waste of game if the person abandons the head or hide in the field.
     (2) A person who is responsible for the death of a grizzly bear commits the offense of waste of game if the person abandons the head or hide or any parts required by department or commission regulation for scientific purposes. All parts of a grizzly bear required by department or commission regulation for scientific purposes must be delivered to an officer or employee of the department for inspection as soon as possible after removal, and the department shall return to the licensee any bone structure and skull within 1 year upon written request. The hide must be returned immediately.
     (3) A person responsible for the death of any game animal, except a mountain lion, commits the offense of waste of game if the person:
     (a) detaches or removes from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers, tusks, or teeth or any or all these parts;
     (b) wastes any part of any game animal, game bird, or game fish suitable for food by transporting, hanging, or storing the carcass in a manner that renders it unfit for human consumption; or
     (c) abandons in the field the carcass of any game animal or any portion of the carcass suitable for food.
     (4) A person in possession of a game animal or game animal parts, game bird, or game fish suitable for food commits the offense of waste of game if the person:
     (a) purposely or knowingly transports, stores, or hangs the animal, bird, or fish in a manner that renders it unfit for human consumption; or
     (b) disposes of or abandons any portion of a game animal, game bird, or game fish that is suitable for food.
     (5) For the purposes of this section, the meat of a grizzly or a black bear that is found to be infected with trichinosis is not considered to be suitable for food.
     (6) A person convicted of waste of game may be fined not less than $50 or more than $1,000 or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both.

     History: En. Sec. 15, Ch. 238, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3696, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 77, L. 1923; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 192, L. 1925; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 59, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 152, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 3696, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 160, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 158, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 40, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 134, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 162, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 417, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 26-307(1); amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 277, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 263, L. 1995.