Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE

CHAPTER 6. FISH AND WILDLIFE CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 2. General Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Offenses -- Related Offenses

Unlawful Recovery And Possession Of Horns And Skulls From Mountain Sheep That Died Of Natural Causes

87-6-240. Unlawful recovery and possession of horns and skulls from mountain sheep that died of natural causes. (1) For a mountain sheep that died of natural causes, a person may not:

(a) recover or possess a horn or horns and attached skull, or portion thereof, in violation of the provisions of 87-3-315;

(b) alter, deface, or remove a pin placed in a horn by the department;

(c) possess a horn that bears an altered, defaced, or counterfeit pin or from which a pin placed by the department was removed.

(2) (a) A person who is convicted of or who forfeits bond or bail after being charged with a violation of this section shall be:

(i) fined up to $2,000 if the violation involved a horn or horns with less than a three-fourths curl or up to $30,000 if the violation involved a horn or horns equal to or greater than a three-fourths curl;

(ii) imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months; or

(iii) both fined and imprisoned pursuant to subsections (2)(a)(i) and (2)(a)(ii).

(b) In addition, the person, upon conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail, may be subject to forfeiture of any current hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by this state and the privilege to hunt, fish, and trap in this state or to use state lands, as defined in 77-1-101, for recreational purposes for a period of time set by the court.

History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 244, L. 2019.