Montana committee advances bill allowing some seniors to hunt cow elk on private land

House Bill 3-28, which would allow residents 75 and older to harvest a cow elk with a general elk tag on private land in hunting districts that already permit 12- to 15-year-old youths similar opportunity, advanced out of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee on a voice vote.

Representative Caleb Hinkle, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is intended to give "older Montanans, due to age and physical limitations," the same limited hunting opportunity now available to some youth hunters. He said the proposal would initially apply in 49 hunting districts and that the Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) agency would retain discretion over which districts would be included.

The bill applies only to private land, Hinkle said, adding he left public land out of the draft because of concerns about increasing competition on already-crowded public hunting areas. He also told committee members that the proposal is intended to mirror existing youth provisions rather than create a new license type.

Supporters who testified online and in person said the change would benefit aging hunters. Chris Killorn of the Outdoor Heritage Coalition and other proponents asked the committee for a "do pass." Trent Gale and other witnesses at later hearings praised similar auction and lottery measures, though their remarks were about a different bill.

The Montana Wildlife Federation formally opposed the bill in testimony delivered by Frank Zolowski. Zolowski asked the committee to record the Federation’s opposition; he did not offer specific amendment language.

Committee members asked whether the sponsor would accept lowering the age threshold from 75 to 70; Hinkle said he would not oppose an amendment to change the age. Representative Marler asked whether the bill "infantilizes" older hunters and whether seniors could simply buy an appropriate tag; Hinkle replied that tags in some districts may be limited and the bill ties the senior opportunity to the existing youth allowance.

Representative Emily Cooper, licensing bureau chief at FWP, told the committee that the licenses at issue are already issued under current systems and that the change would not create a new licensing category but would adjust eligibility for existing general licenses in specified districts.

The committee closed the hearing and later took a voice vote to advance the bill. The record shows Representative Marler voted no on the committee action; several members voted by proxy in favor (Representative Fielder aye by proxy, Representative Sharp aye by proxy, Representative Gregg aye by proxy). The committee’s voice vote produced a "do pass" recommendation and the bill will advance to the House floor.

The bill text leaves several implementation choices to FWP, including which hunting districts will be designated. The sponsor and several committee members discussed and left open the option to amend the bill to change the age threshold or to include public land.

Votes at committee: do pass (advanced to floor); known recorded dissents: Representative Marler (no); known proxies recorded in the hearing: Representative Fielder (aye by proxy), Representative Sharp (aye by proxy), Representative Gregg (aye by proxy).

Background: The bill ties a senior exemption to existing youth allowances in specified hunting districts. Where a district currently allows a 12–15-year-old to harvest a cow elk with a general elk tag, HB 3-28 would permit a resident aged 75 or older to do the same on private property, subject to FWP district designations.