81-2-121. Taking of publicly owned wild buffalo or bison that are present on private property -- notice -- supplemental feeding -- penalty. - Montana Statutes

     81-2-121. Taking of publicly owned wild buffalo or bison that are present on private property -- notice -- supplemental feeding -- penalty. (1) This chapter may not be construed to impose, by implication or otherwise, criminal liability on a landowner or the agent of a landowner for the taking of a publicly owned wild buffalo or bison that is suspected of carrying disease and that is present on the landowner's private property and is potentially associating with or otherwise threatening the landowner's livestock if:
     (a) the landowner or agent notifies or makes a good faith effort to notify the department in order to allow as much time as practicable for the department to first take or remove the publicly owned wild buffalo or bison that is present on the landowner's property;
     (b) the landowner or agent makes a good faith effort to notify the department that a taking has occurred and to retain all parts for disposal by the department; and
     (c) the landowner or agent is not in violation of subsection (2).
     (2) A person may not intentionally provide supplemental feed to game animals in a manner that results in artificial concentration of game animals that may potentially contribute to the transmission of disease. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to the penalty provided in 87-1-102(1). This subsection does not apply to supplemental feeding activities conducted by the department for disease control purposes.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 540, L. 1995.