House Bill 57, which would add California quail and Gambel’s quail to Montana’s statutory definition of upland game birds, advanced from the House Fish and Wildlife Committee on a 13-7 roll call vote.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Paul Fielder, told the committee the measure simply would “add two species of quail, California quail and Gambel’s quail, to the definition of upland game bird species.” He said the change would allow trainers and hunters to manage and use the birds under upland game rules.

The bill matters because it would change how the species are treated under state law and give the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission authority to include them in season-setting and management. Supporters said the change would permit bird‑dog trainers to use the species for field work and would formalize management options. Opponents said the birds are non‑native to Montana and urged more research before changing their legal classification.

Proponents who testified in favor included Dave Heine, president of the Big Sky Region of the National Shoot and Retrieve Association, and hunter and dog‑owner Jen Mayrand. Heine said the birds are “a tremendous bird for us to use in training dogs” and urged committee members to “allow us to expand our upland bird hunting opportunities.”

Opponents, led by Peter Dudley of Montana Audubon and Tom Jacobson of the Montana Wildlife Federation, urged caution. Dudley noted the two quail species had been the subject of a 2011 petition asking that they be classified as exotic/prohibited; he said that designation currently allows “no restriction on take” and argued the state should not remove the prohibition without further study. Jacobson said the department already provides opportunities to hunt the birds and that biological vetting by Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) would be appropriate before a statutory change.

Quentin Kujala, FWP chief of conservation policy, gave the department’s informational perspective: California quail are not native to Montana, appearing in the Bitterroot Valley in the late 1990s or early 2000s. Kujala told the committee the department has not documented population‑level evidence that the quail compete with or displace native species, but that the petition and commission record call for formal research to detect such interactions. He also said that if the bill becomes law the commission could include the quail in its season‑setting process and could, at its discretion, set seasons similar to other upland birds or keep broad take opportunities.

Committee members pressed on scope and process. Several members noted the change originated from the Environmental Quality Council rather than as a department bill and said they wanted stronger biological analysis before altering an exotic/prohibited classification. Sponsor Fielder, who said he has a wildlife‑biology background, replied that the species are already present in parts of western Montana and that classifying them as upland game birds would allow FWP discretion to manage them — including setting a zero‑harvest season if warranted.

Vice Chair Steve Hinkle moved that the bill “do pass.” The committee recorded a roll call: Vice Chair Steve Hinkle (yes); Representative Fielder (yes); Representative Maness (yes); Representative Eisley (no); Representative Steinger (no); Representative Byrne (yes); Representative Perry (yes); Representative Fitzpatrick (no); Representative Gregg (yes); Representative Mallette (yes); Representative RunningWolf (no); Representative Carlin (no); Representative Sharp (yes); Representative Durham (yes); Representative France (yes); Representative Myler (no); Representative Schubert (yes); Representative Deming (yes); Vice Chair Konauer (no); Chair Jay Henkel (yes). The clerk announced: 13 ayes, 7 noes. The motion carried and HB 57 passed the committee.

The committee did not adopt amendments during executive action. The bill will proceed to the full House for further consideration.

Ending: The committee moved on to executive action on other bills after closing the hearing on HB 57.