Baiting, feeding deer and other game animals in Montana is illegal

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens want to remind hunters and homeowners that baiting deer and other game animals for hunting purposes and/or purposely feeding game animals in Montana is illegal.

Many sporting goods stores in Montana offer feed, supplements and other baiting attractants that are targeted to these various game animals.

Although it is legal for vendors to sell these attractants, it is not legal for Montanans to use them for hunting purposes.

Below is the official language in the Montana deer, elk, and antelope hunting regulations:

- It is unlawful for anyone to hunt or attempt to hunt any game animal or game bird by the aid of or with the use of any bait, salt lick, trap, snare, or set gun; 

- Baiting shall mean the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of food sources or salt so as to constitute a lure or attraction;

- Artificial scents may be used to attract game animals (except black bears) and game birds.

In addition, according to Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 87-6-216, a person may not provide supplemental feed attractants to game animals or wild turkeys by:

- Purposely or knowingly attracting any cloven-hoofed ungulates, bears, mountain lions, or wild turkeys with supplemental feed attractants;

- After having received a previous warning, negligently failing to properly store supplemental feed attractants, and allowing any cloven-hoofed ungulates, bears, mountain lions, or wild turkeys access to the supplemental feed attractants.

- Purposely or knowingly providing supplemental feed attractants in a manner that results in an artificial concentration of game animals or wild turkeys that may potentially contribute to the transmission of disease or that constitutes a threat to public safety.

These restrictions of feeding and baiting game animals are not intended to prohibit other activities such as:

- The normal feeding of livestock;

- A normal agricultural practice;

- Cultivation of a lawn or garden;

- The commercial processing of garbage

- Recreational feeding of birds unless, after having received a previous warning from FWP, the person continues to feed birds in a manner that attracts ungulates, bears or wild turkeys and that may contribute to the transmission of disease or constitute a threat to public safety.