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House committee advances bill adding two quail species to stateupland-game-bird list after split vote
Summary
The House committee recommended House Bill 57 do pass on second reading, 55-44, to add California and Gambel's quail to the statutory list of upland game birds amid disagreement between bird-dog trainers and members urging more scientific review.
House committee members voted 55-44 to recommend House Bill 57 do pass on second reading, a measure that would add California quail and Gambel's quail to Montana's statutory definition of "upland game birds." The bill was introduced by Representative Fielder and brought to the committee at the request of the Environmental Quality Council.
The bill's backers said listing the two quail species would allow bird-dog trainers to use the birds in field trials and training. Representative Fielder described the species as useful for training and asked members to recommend the bill.
Representative Beatty said he found California quail established in parts of the Bitterroot Valley and stressed the species' local presence: "We have California quail all over the place. We have them in town." He urged the committee to consider control measures because, he said, the birds are already established.
Other lawmakers urged caution. A representative warned the committee there was insufficient scientific information on the risk these nonnative quail might pose to native species and cited previous cases of introduced species affecting native fauna. Representative Albus urged a no vote, calling the birds "a non native invasive species" and saying that because they are not under the control of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks they "could be hunted year round." Representative Perry and other supporters said the birds coexist with pheasants and chukar in other states and that naming them as game birds would legalize training that some handlers said had continued informally.
The committee record shows the motion that the committee "recommend the same do pass" was moved by Representative Fielder and the recommendation passed 55-44.
The bill text would add California quail and Gambel's quail to the list of species treated as upland game birds and would have a delayed effective date as stated in the bill title. The committee discussion cited the Environmental Quality Council and training uses as drivers for the proposal.
The bill will proceed to further consideration in the House under the committee report recommended by the committee of the whole.
