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HB 57

Designate quail as upland game bird

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Paul Fielder

Montana bill to designate quail as upland game bird, enabling regulated hunting, failed to advance through Senate in 2025.

(H) Died in Process
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Bill Summary · HB 57

Legislative bill overview

HB 57 seeks to officially designate quail as an upland game bird in Montana's wildlife management framework. This reclassification would change how quail are regulated, hunted, and managed under state fish and game laws. The bill ultimately died in the legislative process without becoming law.

Why is this important

Designating quail as upland game birds affects hunting seasons, licensing requirements, bag limits, and wildlife management priorities in Montana. Such classifications influence conservation efforts, hunter access, and how state fish and game agencies allocate resources for species management.

Potential points of contention

  • Conservation status disagreement: Stakeholders may have differed on whether quail populations are robust enough to sustain hunting pressure or whether they need protection instead
  • Hunter access vs. resource management: The designation could expand hunting opportunities, creating tension between hunting interests and biologists concerned about population sustainability
  • Regulatory complexity: The failed second reading motions suggest procedural or substantive disagreements about whether the reclassification was necessary or properly drafted

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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