Montana bill would let private landowners hunt deer and elk inside Flathead Reservation; tribes and FWP warn of legal fallout

Representative Tracy Sharp introduced House Bill 216 to the House Fish and Wildlife Committee, saying the measure would "merely seek in a collaborative fashion to permit citizens living on their own private land within the boundaries of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai scribe reservation be granted permission to hunt deer and elk on their own property." The sponsor said the licenses would be valid only for private landowners and would be coordinated with tribal authorities, and that revenue would go to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).

Supporters — including retired game wardens, ranchers and local conservation groups — told the committee the bill would help reduce crop and fence damage, improve road safety and give landowners a humane way to address overabundant deer and elk. Rick Schoening, a…