37-47-404. Responsibility for violations of law. (1) A person accompanying a hunting or fishing party as an outfitter, guide, or outfitter's assistant is equally responsible with any person or party engaging the person as an outfitter for any violation of fish and game laws unless the violation is reported to a peace officer by the outfitter, guide, or outfitter's assistant and the outfitter, guide, or outfitter's assistant was not an active participant. An outfitter, guide, or outfitter's assistant who willfully fails or refuses to report any violation of fish and game laws is liable for the penalties provided in this chapter. If a guide or outfitter's assistant violates the laws or applicable regulations relating to fish and game, outfitting, or guiding with actual knowledge of an outfitter engaging the guide or outfitter's assistant, the outfitter is legally responsible for the violation for all purposes under the laws or regulations if the outfitter fails to report the violation to the proper authority.

(2) An outfitter, guide, or outfitter's assistant shall report any violation or suspected violation of fish and game laws that the outfitter, guide, or outfitter's assistant knows has been committed by the employees, contractors, agents, representatives, clients, or participants in the outfitting or guiding activity. The violation or suspected violation must be reported to a peace officer at the earliest possible opportunity.

(3) A person may not hire or retain an outfitter unless the outfitter is currently licensed in accordance with the laws of the state of Montana. A person may not use the services of a guide, and a guide may not offer services unless the services are obtained through an endorsing outfitter.

(4) An outfitter may not place a hired or retained outfitter's assistant in a position of providing services to participants until the outfitter has documentation as specified by board rule under 37-47-201(4)(e).