In Montana, You Also Can’t…

When it comes to hunting regulations that have nothing to do with safety or wildlife management, Montana’s ban on trail cameras certainly ranks at or near the top of the list. But prohibiting the use of trail cameras during hunting season isn’t the only Montana regulation that’s drawn the ire of some hunters. The Big Sky State also has these “dubious” regulations on the books:

- Archers are prohibited from using lighted arrow nocks, such as the Lumenok.
- A hunting bow can be no shorter than 28 inches, measured axle to axle. 
- Archers may not use any electronic or battery-powered device attached to a hunting bow, including bow sites that provide artificial light.
- No baiting or supplemental feeding is allowed. Except for putting out bird feeders, it’s illegal to bait or feed wildlife—even out-of-season.
- Crossbows are prohibited during archery season and can only be used during rifle season.

These rules are enough to make one wonder how Montana officials ever allowed hunters to use bolt-action rifles, compound bows or cover scents, considering their apparent aversion to hunting technology.

Comments

What about handy capped people that still want to hunt , disabled military , to use a crossbow when everyone else is chasing them and spooking them with rifles is a little unfair. From Joel on Friday, September 03, 2010 9:13 PM In response to ron lawler the claymore mines and trip wire is needed on the southern border. From bob on Friday, September 03, 2010 7:03 PM AMERICA IS A REPUBLIC OF LAWS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOME PARTICULAR LAWS VOTE OUT THE LAW MAKERS AND VOTE IN NEW ONES WHO SHARE YOUR VIEWS. IF YOU STILL AREN'T SATISFIED, PACK UP YOUR STUFF,AND YOUR MONEY, AND MOVE TO A STATE THAT SHARES YOUR CONCERNS! From Lionel Harris on Friday, September 03, 2010 2:28 PM I had the privilege of living, hunting & fishing in MT for 24 years, and never felt "restricted" by regulations. If you need all this hi-tech equipment, maybe you should stick to video games, and stay out of the woods. The Dept. Fish, Wildlife & Parks in MT does an excellent job, especially considering the size of the state, and the diversity of the wildlife. From Ted Thurnau on Friday, September 03, 2010 11:04 AM It would seem that regulating the size of compound bows is like regulating the size of hunting hand guns./ga From Gary Alig on Friday, September 03, 2010 10:34 AM I tend to agree with Montana's rules. Now it is lighted nocks, next it is lighted pins, then it is a flashlight to get you to your hunting area, then it becomes a spotlight then... Well, you get the picture. This way, there is no grey area. It actually simplifies the rules. Montana is not trying to eliminate technology, just trying to give the game a fighting chance. Hunting in Montana is not a guaranteed harvest, but a true hunt. Montana has been pretty willing to embrace PROVEN innovations & technologies. Just because someone has improved or invented some piece of equipment, that doesn't make that piece of equipment a good fit for hunters. By being cautious and conservative in its approach, Montana has been able to maintain some of the longest and most liberal hunting seasons of all the states. Happy Hunting! From John Ralph on Friday, September 03, 2010 8:51 AM We live in an age where technology tends to rule our lives. From computers to cell phones. I agree that utilizing feeders, as they do in Texas, and then hunt over them is not "hunting," it is merely shooting. If you're a golfer you are most likely aware of the new "grooves" regulation that started this year on the PGA tour. It's tantamount to having the technology to cook your food over a range indoors but you go out in your backyard and build a fire to cook it over. Sure some things make hunting easier and maybe reduce the "fair chase" ethic. I thought my bolt action 7mm Magnum made it unfair. I'm for "fair chase" and smart wildlife mgmt, some of these laws/regs are a bit out in left field. From USNavyChiefRet on Sunday, August 29, 2010 10:00 PM Obviously some of these responders have never really USED a trail camera so they don't know what they're talking about. They're like the new Yorker that thinks he should have a say in how many wolves Montana should have. Like he has any clue! Maybe we should stock Central Park with a wolf pack or two. They're native there also. From Robert Vergamini on Tuesday, July 06, 2010 11:14 AM No crossbows during archery season? That is like a guy who shoots a 30-30 wanting to ban the use of anything more modern or powerful! Just plain stupid!!! And to anyone against the use of "technology" to hunt, maybe you like the idea of buffalo jumps! Love to see you try to get an elk or deer that way, Bozo! From Mike McLaughlin on Monday, June 07, 2010 7:51 PM I'm a california hunter, fortunate enough to hunt Montana more than once. These laws are not unlike thoughs of Ca. This state's idea of wildlife management is just taking the hunters' and fishermans' money. From Dave on Monday, June 07, 2010 1:34 PM I like all these regs. It's about time something is done to protect wildlife from technology. Next thing you know claymore mines with trip wires will be legal so we can just go pick up the game in the morning. From Ron Lawler on Monday, June 07, 2010 11:18 AM I agree with the ban on hunting cams during the season. New rules for this coming general season include taking of antlered whitetail ONLY in many districts due to depleted numbers. Before you start in with the Wolf argument, I think MTFWP does an excellent job. I don't want to hunt in a sterile environment. I want to hunt with Wolves, Grizzlies, and cats roaming my domain. If you want to fill the freezer in a day, go shoot 'em up in Ohio. If you want to enjoy the experience of hunting, come to Montana. The season is still months away, yet my excitement is palpable. From Stan W on Monday, June 07, 2010 10:26 AM Steven, now just what does a lighted nock have to do with 'making it sporting'? Will one get you closer to your quarry or will it magically make the arrow more deadly? Will it make the arrow fly faster or make it easier to hold the bow at full draw? Please enlighten me as to how using a lighted nock is less sporting in your eyes. Make no mistake, I do wish you the best in the upcoming season & hope to hunt in Montana someday. From Mike on Monday, June 07, 2010 7:17 AM I am a native Montanan. I am also a NRA Member. A lot of these rules starting to deplete hunting rights in Montana are coming from out of state through influence of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. We native Montanan's have seen this type of thing getting stronger and more influential with time. Just a personal observation but it seems to me these people influencing these rules are also trying to turn Montana into a rich man's paradise. Thousands of acres in Montana are now owned by huge corporations which are shutting off vast areas of hunting land to the hunters and fishermen who live in this state and have hunted and fished all of their lives. The Obama administration now appears to be trying to get in on the action with a federal land grab in the Northern part of the state. From Bruce Stewart on Monday, June 07, 2010 12:22 AM Sounds like these people! From Jack Wilborn on Sunday, June 06, 2010 9:30 PM These regulations all sound fine to me. It is supposed to be primitive weapon hunting, not another animal harvest festival. Keep it simple and primitive and enjoy it. From Glen Rea on Sunday, June 06, 2010 4:15 PM I can understand not using trail cameras during hunting season. It doesn't say you can't use them, you just can't use them during hunting season. You may be violating federal law by taking pictures of hunters without their consent. From Dave Thurlow on Sunday, June 06, 2010 1:28 PM They are hunting. They don't need to have game handed to them on a platter. As for feeding game, that law is mainly for residents' safety. From john ziegler on Sunday, June 06, 2010 1:24 PM The wolves of course are not subject to such regulations. From mark haley on Sunday, June 06, 2010 12:21 PM WTF, No Lumenocs in Montana? Is this an effort to stimulate the retail economy by causing hunters to lose arrows in the field? As the Latin Americans would say "muy el stupido!" From Michael Sanders on Sunday, June 06, 2010 10:13 AM Sure you do Steve. Not sure I understand banning trailcams. I do think it should be up to the state and it's hunters to make policy. Not guys like Steven who "still use wooden arrows to make it sporting". The older I get the more tiresome these attitudes become. From M Farrell on Sunday, June 06, 2010 10:05 AM "- No baiting or supplemental feeding is allowed. Except for putting out bird feeders, it’s illegal to bait or feed wildlife—even out-of-season." is a fairly common rule in the west. Wyoming has a similar rule. It's about keep the wild game wild. From Mike O'Brien on Sunday, June 06, 2010 9:19 AM Montana's FW&P is the most backward government agency in the state. Fencing newly acquired land and installing steel gates and locking them is what they do best. Their attitude seems to be that they own all the game and no input from hunters is needed or desired. From Ronald Johns on Sunday, June 06, 2010 8:10 AM Using feeders and camera is not hunting. It is harvesting. It is like shooting a steer in a feed lot. They are right about crossbows also. From Daiel Allison on Sunday, June 06, 2010 4:19 AM I don't have a problem with that either. Like inlines during primitive seasons, some technologies should not be allowed. From Tim Kendrick on Saturday, June 05, 2010 7:45 PM It sounds good to me. Before you know it they will be using heat seeking arrows. I still use a wood bow and arrows, just to make it sporting. From Steven Jacko on Monday, May 17, 2010 7:31 PM

Name:* Email: Comments:* Enter the above code here: (Code is case insensitive. You can put lower or upper case.) Can't read? Try different words.