Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House committee advances bill to add California and Gambel’s quail to upland game list
Summary
A House Fish and Wildlife Committee voted 13–7 to pass HB57, which would add California and Gambel’s quail to Montana’s upland game bird definition; proponents cited dog‑training and hunting benefits, opponents urged more scientific study and warned of farming or release risks.
Representative Paul Fielder introduced House Bill 57, which would add California quail and Gambel’s (Gambel’s) quail to the statutory definition of upland game birds. Fielder told the committee the change came from the Environmental Quality Council and said the bill ‘‘adds California quail and Gambel’s quail to the list of upland game bird species.’’
The measure drew supportive testimony from upland-hunting advocates. Dave Heine, president of the Big Sky Region of the National Shoots Retrieve Association, said the California quail is ‘‘a bird that is cherished’’ and useful for training dogs. Jen May Moran, an upland hunter and bird-dog owner, said adding the species could create new hunting opportunities…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
