Montana is the Latest State to Table Possible Shed Hunting License Requirements

Following in the footsteps of neighboring Wyoming and Idaho, Montana could be yet another western state to implement mandatory licensing for shed hunting. Introduced as House Bill 363, the new bill would establish separate licensing fees for both in-state and out-of-state shed hunters along with designated waiting periods for non-residents on specific state-owned lands.

The bill, which proposes a $10 fee for residents and a $50 fee for non-residents, would allow license holders to collect naturally shed antlers and dead heads so long as the animal died of natural causes. As for private landowners, they will continue to be able to collect any and all sheds from their property without a valid license.

Without any wording of an official shed hunting season as of yet, the bill does go on to state that resident shed hunters will be awarded with an 8-day head start on a selection of state-managed properties that are closed during winter months.

With public outcry coming from other states that have already implemented similar legislation, Montana regulators maintain that the bill was not designed to over-regulate, but to curb trespassing and mitigate conflicts as competition for highly sought after antlers continues to intensify. What was once an activity enjoyed by those simply looking to get afield while most hunting seasons are closed has turned into a commercial endeavor for many.

With the price of antlers and antler accessories continuing to rise, shed hunting has become big business. And as we all know, once we attach a value to something, it will undoubtedly attract those looking to skirt laws, regulations and ethical practices to get their hands on some valuable bone.

For context, Wyoming’s new regulations regarding shed hunting do not require residents to purchase a shed hunting license. By allowing locals to freely pursue discarded antlers, the state only requires that non-residents purchase a conservation stamp for $21.50. Idaho, on the other hand, went ahead and introduced some of the toughest shed hunting regulations in the country this past year. 

Put into law last summer, Idaho’s legislation dictates that non-resident shed hunters must purchase a big game hunting license in order to collect antlers inside state boundaries. Running at a cost of around $200, the restrictions echo Idaho’s commitment to protecting deer and elk herds during winter seasons who might receive undue pressure from antler hunters.

The new bill coming out of Montana seems to toe the line between Wyoming and Idaho’s current regulations and seems to be striking some kind of a balance. While public outcry over licensing for collecting something as naturally occurring as antler sheds, legislators are standing by the proposed bill stating that they might be the last line of defense in protection of vulnerable wintering herds of both deer and elk.

The bill remains in committee and has yet to have been proposed for a full floor vote.