Committee backs bill to restrict nonresident shed hunting on WMAs

Representative Jill Konower introduced HB 897 to address crowding and perceived organized early collection ("stashing") at Wildlife Management Area (WMA) openings for antler collection. The bill would require nonresidents to buy a conservation license and a $50 nonresident WMA shed‑hunting license in areas with seasonal closures, and would give residents a seven‑day lead before nonresidents can access those WMAs.

Proponents including local shed hunters, conservation groups and sporting organizations described severe congestion at openings (hundreds of vehicles lining roads) and anecdotal stashing that disrupts elk use of WMAs and causes highway congestion. Joe Cohenour and Thomas Baumeister said similar policies in neighboring states (Wyoming cited) reduced congestion. Proponents argued the measure would also generate modest revenue and produce data on nonresident participation.

FWP law enforcement (Ron Howell) provided informational testimony that first‑offense warnings are sometimes ineffective and that stacked antler values (market prices cited in testimony) make penalties and enforcement design important; he said the department could stand for questions and noted overlap with a criminal trespass bill elsewhere in the session.

Committee members asked about penalties, expected revenue and whether a seven‑day resident priority would meaningfully protect resident opportunity; backers cited a modest fiscal note (~$14,800 projected revenue) and emphasized the bill as an initial step to manage growing shed‑hunting pressure. In executive action the committee voted to pass HB 897 out of committee.