87-4-414. Alternative livestock as private property -- source -- marking -- fee shooting prohibited. - Montana Statutes

     87-4-414. Alternative livestock as private property -- source -- marking -- fee shooting prohibited. (1) All alternative livestock lawfully possessed on a licensed alternative livestock ranch are private property for which the licensee is responsible as provided by law.
     (2) The licensee may acquire, breed, grow, keep, pursue, handle, harvest, use, sell, or dispose of the alternative livestock and their progeny in any quantity and at any time of year as long as the licensee complies with the requirements of this part, except that the licensee may not allow the shooting of game animals or alternative livestock, as defined in 87-2-101 or 87-4-406, or of any exotic big game species for a fee or other remuneration on an alternative livestock facility.
     (3) A licensee shall mark alternative livestock in a manner approved by the department of livestock, as required under subsection (4), and that indicates ownership and provides individual identification of animals for inspection, transportation, reporting, and taxation purposes.
     (4) The department of livestock is responsible for the control, tracking, and distribution of identification tags used for the marking of alternative livestock. The department of livestock shall require that all imported alternative livestock are marked within 30 days of importation and that all other alternative livestock are marked prior to January 1 of each year. Each alternative livestock must be marked with identification that:
     (a) is unique to the animal;
     (b) is nontransferable;
     (c) has an emblem owned and registered by the department of livestock that is embossed on each identification tag; and
     (d) allows for the identification of alternative livestock from a distance.
     (5) Upon the request of a licensee, the department of livestock may grant a temporary waiver as to the time for identification and to the manner of identification if necessary to address a special circumstance.
     (6) Alternative livestock must be lawfully acquired by the licensee. Alternative livestock may be kept only on a licensed alternative livestock ranch. A licensee who keeps alternative livestock owned by, leased to, or leased from another person shall comply with all of the requirements of this part as if the animal belonged to the licensee. Records and reports submitted by the licensee pursuant to 87-4-417 must identify any alternative livestock kept by the licensee during the reporting period and the name and address of the owner or lessee.
     (7) Except as otherwise provided in this part, laws applicable to game animals do not apply to alternative livestock raised on a licensed alternative livestock ranch.

     History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 570, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 531, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 315, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 503, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 574, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 6, I.M. No. 143, approved Nov. 7, 2000.