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Bill

HB 175

Require fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report detailing data on hunting districts

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shannon Maness

Montana law now requires Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to publish detailed hunting district data reports for public access and informed wildlife management decisions.

Chapter Number Assigned
#fishandwildlife
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Bill Summary · HB 175

Legislative bill overview

HB 175 requires Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to publish a comprehensive report containing detailed data about the state's hunting districts. The bill mandates public disclosure of information that was previously either unavailable or not systematized in an accessible format, making district-level hunting data transparent to the public.

Why is this important

Hunters, wildlife managers, and policymakers rely on accurate district-level data to make informed decisions about hunting opportunities, conservation strategies, and resource allocation. This transparency allows the public to better understand hunting patterns, game populations, and district-specific wildlife management outcomes, potentially improving both recreational hunting experiences and conservation effectiveness.

Potential points of contention

  • Data scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify which data metrics must be included (harvest numbers, species-by-district, success rates, etc.), potentially leading to inconsistent reporting or disputes over what qualifies as necessary information
  • Resource costs: Compiling and maintaining comprehensive district-level reports requires staff time and IT resources that may strain the agency's budget without dedicated funding
  • Privacy concerns: Detailed hunting data could potentially be used to identify individual hunting locations or success patterns, raising privacy questions despite legitimate public interest in the information

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

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