HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has exact, real-time location data of some animals like sage grouse or bears.
“Lots of hunters have contacted the department and asked them for that exact coordinate location so that they could improve their hunting ability.”
That’s Senator Jill Cohenour from Helena introducing Senate Bill 349 in the Senate last week. The bill, which would make it illegal for hunters to use that kind of data, passed out of the Senate with a vote of 27 to 23 Monday.
As Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service Reports, under the bill, hunters could be fined up to $1,000, could serve up to 6 months jail time and lose hunting licenses for using exact location data to track and harass or kill animals.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Martha Williams spoke in support of the bill during its public hearing in March.
“This bill serves to protect fair chase hunting, ethical hunting, fishing and trapping standards that the Montana public has come to expect.”
The bill now moves to the House.
