Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB139: Revise laws related to mule deer buck hunting in November
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act creating restrictions on the closure of mule deer buck hunting during the general rifle season in november; and amending section 871-304, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING RESTRICTIONS ON THE CLOSURE OF MULE DEER BUCK HUNTING DURING THE GENERAL RIFLE SEASON IN NOVEMBER; AND AMENDING SECTION 871-304, MCA." WHEREAS, to increase populations of mule deer, doe harvest is minimized, and to decrease populations of mule deer, doe harvest is maximized; and WHEREAS, mule deer buck harvest is generally not a major factor for population management; and WHEREAS, Montana is unusual among the states in that it has always, APART FROM THE EARLY 1900S, allowed the harvest of mule deer bucks during the deer rut period; and WHEREAS, harvesting mule deer bucks during the rut gives hunters the opportunity to harvest a mature deer as the mature deer are more active at that time; and WHEREAS, Montana hunters have longstanding personal and family traditions of hunting mule deer during the rut; and WHEREAS, Montana has hunting families whose traditions of hunting mule deer during the rut are generational and culminate with Thanksgiving; and WHEREAS, it is essential to preserve the longstanding opportunity and tradition of mule deer buck harvest during the rut period while allowing the management of buck harvest in hunting districts where it may be beneficial for population management.; AND WHEREAS, THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "NOVEMBER MULE DEER BUCK HUNT PROTECTION ACT". BE IT …
Sponsors
- Hinkle, Jedediah (R, 67) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Standing Committee
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Hearing Canceled
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Hearing Canceled
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) First Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (February 24, 2025): 43 yea, 56 nay, failed
- ReconsAction - J. Hinkle (February 22, 2025): 50 yea, 48 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 21, 2025): 48 yea, 50 nay, failed
Subjects: Fish
Common questions
- What is HB139?
- HB139 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise laws related to mule deer buck hunting in November.
- What does HB139 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act creating restrictions on the closure of mule deer buck hunting during the general rifle season in november; and amending section 871-304, mca.".
- What is the status of HB139?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Standing Committee (May 22, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB139?
- Hinkle, Jedediah (R, 67).
- Where is the official record for HB139?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1271
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.