Representative proposes adding California and Gambel's quail to Montana's upland game bird list; conservation groups urge commission review

Representative Paul Fielder introduced House Bill 57, asking the Fish and Game Committee to add California quail and Gambel's quail to Montana's statutory definition of upland game birds so the department could manage them as game species. Fielder said the change was requested by the Environmental Quality Council and that the statutory listing would not take effect until March 2026.

Supporters testified the birds are desirable for bird-dog training and hunting. Dave Heine, a Flathead Lake landowner and bird-dog trainer, said California quail are “a really desirable bird for training all ages of pointing dogs” and that he had not encountered negative reports from biologists in neighboring states. A second proponent, Jerry Ruhr, described a long history of quail presence in some western Montana areas and offered brief supporting remarks.

Opponents, including Montana Audubon and 5 Valleys Audubon, urged the committee to reject HB 57 or refer the matter to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Peter Dudley of Montana Audubon said the current designation is “exotic prohibited,” which prevents transport and release; he argued classification decisions should proceed through the commission and its classification review process. Rosemary Leach, president of 5 Valleys Audubon, told the committee, “Iam here to ask you to please vote no on HB 57,” citing risk to native ecosystems, potential disease spread in concentrated flocks, and the view that the birds were established by unauthorized releases rather than natural colonization.

Quentin Kujala, chief of conservation policy for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, appeared as an informational witness. Kujala described a prior petition and the commission's 2014 classification decision and said the department had not detected clear evidence of competition or acute disease associated with the Bitterroot quail population over the past decade-plus, though counts and local concentrations have grown. Kujala also outlined administrative steps that would follow if the statute were changed: once a species is listed as a game bird, the Fish and Wildlife Commission would have discretion to set seasons, bag limits, and other management measures; any agency release would be subject to MEPA review.

Committee members questioned proponents, opponents, and agency staff about observed covey sizes, evidence of competition with native species, transport and release rules, and how bird-dog training practices can lead to escapes. Testimony documented divergent views: proponents emphasized hunting and training benefits and examples of coexistence in other states; opponents emphasized the birds' nonnative origin in Montana, potential for rapid population growth, and disease vectors in concentrated flocks.

The sponsor closed by requesting a "do pass" and reiterating his wildlife-biologist credentials. The committee closed the hearing on HB 57 with no executive action recorded.