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Bill would let FWP’s reward program offer hunting permits as incentives; supporters call it an enforcement tool, critics worry about fairness
Summary
HB134 would allow Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ TIPMOT reward board to offer permits (in addition to cash) for tips leading to convictions in special‑draw districts; backers say it helps combat poaching in limited draw units while opponents say distributing rare permits as rewards could be unfair and affect management draws.
Representative Curtis Cochran told the Fish and Wildlife Committee HB134 would let the TIPMOT reward board offer permits as additional incentives for tips that lead to poaching convictions in special draw districts. "The idea is if I turn in a poacher in a special draw district and he gets convicted, I get the tag next year as a reward," he said.
Trout Unlimited and local sportsmen groups testified in favor, saying the change gives enforcement new tools and mirrors incentive programs in other states. Tyson O’Connell, calling in from the field, described cases where tip rewards led to prosecutions and advocated expanding the program beyond strictly financial payments.
Opponents said awarding limited‑draw permits could be unfair to applicants who have spent years building draw points. Hunter Kevin Farron urged beefed‑up penalties and other enforcement tools rather than reallocating rare permits as rewards. Fish, Wildlife and Parks enforcement staff said Montana already offers financial rewards (TIPMOT paid roughly $13,000 in 2024) and that other states’ permit‑reward programs have produced prosecutorial leads, but that implementation details — including whether additional permits would affect draw odds or management allocations — would require further vetting.
Committee members asked FWP about risks to draw equity and how the reward permits would be administered; FWP said the bill only allows the department to explore the option and that the TIPMOT board already sets reward criteria and composition. The committee closed the HB134 hearing with no immediate action.
