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Montana bill would add modest fees for sandhill crane and swan permits to fund wetland conservation
Summary
HB146 would establish modest resident and nonresident fees for sandhill crane and swan licenses and raise the resident migratory game‑bird license to $10; proponents said new fee revenue would support wetland conservation, while opponents urged alternative funding sources.
Representative Gary Perry told the committee HB146 would add a modest resident fee (proposed $10) and nonresident fee (proposed $75) for sandhill crane and swan licenses, and increase the resident migratory game bird license from $5.50 to $10. He said neighboring states charge for the permits and that the additional fees would support wetland conservation projects.
Montana Audubon and the Montana Wildlife Federation supported the measure, saying migratory game‑bird funding is directly tied to wetland conservation in the Prairie Pothole region. Montana FWP licensing staff answered questions from lawmakers about application fees and administrative rule practice; FWP licensing chief Emily Cooper said application fees are kept by the department under administrative rule and that the fiscal note projects roughly $242,900 annually from the proposed changes.
Opponents raised broader questions about funding conservation without tying it too closely to consumptive use; one witness urged more non‑game revenue options. The committee closed the hearing on HB146 with no immediate action.
