The Montana House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committe will hear a proposed bill on Tuesday afternoon that would establish licensing and fees for shed hunting.

The first section applies to residents and proposes a $10 charge: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Class F-1–resident shed collecting license. (1) A resident as defined in 87-2-102, on payment of a $10 fee, is entitled to receive a Class F-1 license that, except as provided in subsection (2), authorizes the holder of the license to collect and possess naturally shed antlers and horns of elk, deer, and antelope and the antlers or horns of a game animal, except for mountain sheep as provided in 87-3-315, with a skull or a portion of a skull attached that has died from natural causes and that has not been unlawfully killed, captured, or taken or accidentally killed as prescribed by rules of the department. (2) A license is not required by a landowner, their immediate family, or the landowner’s employees on the landowner’s land for the collecting of naturally shed antlers and horns of elk, deer, and antelope or the antlers or horns of a game animal, except for mountain sheep as provided in 87-3-315, with a skull or a portion of a skull attached that has died from natural causes and that has not been unlawfully killed, captured, or taken or accidentally killed.

The second seciton applies to non-residents and proposes a $50 fee:

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Class F-2–nonresident shed collecting license. (1) A person who is 28- 1 – Authorized Print Version – HB 353 HB 353.1 **** 69th Legislature 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 not a resident as defined in 87-2-102, on payment of a $50 fee, is entitled to receive a Class F-2 license that, except as provided in subsection (2), authorizes the holder of the license to collect and possess naturally shed antlers and horns of elk, deer, and antelope and the antlers or horns of a game animal, except for mountain sheep as provided in 87-3-315, with a skull or a portion of a skull attached that has died from natural causes and that has not been unlawfully killed, captured, or taken or accidentally killed as prescribed by rules of the department. (2) A license is not required by a landowner, their immediate family, or the landowner’s employees on the landowner’s land for the collecting of naturally shed antlers and horns of elk, deer, and antelope or the antlers or horns of a game animal, except for mountain sheep as provided in 87-3-315, with a skull or a portion of a skull attached that has died from natural causes and that has not been unlawfully killed, captured, or taken or accidentally killed.

The hearing will be held in Room 172 at 3 p.m.