Montana - outlawed laser rangefinders for hunting?

[Hbb6601]

Is it true that Montana has outlawed the use of laser rangefinders for hunting? I lived there for a long time and they were ok. I have a buddy that called to see if it was ok to hunt with a lighted reticle (nightforce) and the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks told him that was ok but laser rangefinders were illegal for hunting. Is this true? I haven't heard of this before......

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

god I dought it thats one of the free states semes counter intuitive to me. Knowing the range will boost hit ratios resulting in more and cleaner kills.

 

[bogger01]

if i had to guess they were probably talking about laser aiming devices

 

[bigngreen]

HUH! Everyone I know is going to get a ticket if it were true. I can see how one paragraph would be construed to mean LRF but the light is not visible so I don't think it would count. A projected visible light beam would for sure be illegal, hence the spot lighting issues. I run questions like this through the game warden in the area I hunt, that way your getting it from the horses mouth so to speak.
I've never been asked to or checked on a LRF and I've had it hanging in plain sight!

"Artificial Light
It is illegal for anyone to take or attempt
to take any game animal or game bird
with the aid of projected artificial light."

 

[Hbb6601]

I'm with everyone else but the crazy thing is my buddy called and asked a Montana game warden today. I told him I thought that was crazy as I've always hunted with one in Montana and it was legal so I thought maybe they changed the regulations. I guess the Game warden he talked to must have been mistaken. Still strange that he told him that.....

 

[bigngreen]

Did he talk to a local game warden or to the main desk at Helena, there's a big difference sometimes!

 

[westcliffe01]

Possibly the ranger is not a shooter and doesn't know what a rangefinder is ?

 

[Hbb6601]

He did call the local office in Billings and they transferred him to Helena. I'll going to get a buddy in Roundup to ask the local warden. I think the other guy may have been confused.

 

[Mickey D]

Just range finder may sound better.

 

[cowboy]

HUH! Everyone I know is going to get a ticket if it were true.
I've never been asked to or checked on a LRF and I've had it hanging in plain sight!/QUOTE]

If this were true - they better start printing more ticket books - and they still won't have enough by the time the hunting season starts.

In fact they could just issue a ticket whenever anyone buys an archery tag - I know a lot of archers and can not think of one that does not run a range finder. When it comes to rifle hunters I would guess that at least half the population has them. Heck - G&F could just sit and watch all the outdoor TV shows filmed in Mt. and start sending out tickets in the mail.

I've been checked so many times in the early back season hunts I couldn't count all the times and have NEVER even been asked about a range finder.

 

[mthunter86]

Talked to the head Worden today for region 5 and this is simply note true. I was told that it has never even been discussed...I think the first person must have had a misunderstanding with whoever they spoke with.

 

[midwesthunter]

The person you spoke to might have been thinking about the new rangefinder that mounts on your bow. Leupold vendeta I belive. I know there was a lot for sale on archerytalk for a while since its illegal to have a elctronic or battery powered device, or any kind of artifitial light on your bow or arrow. So know lighted sight or nock or rangefinder mounted to your bow.

 

[aroshtr]

If they were talking about rifles.... I wonder if the person or warden was thinking about the laser rangefinding scopes that are all built into one unit. Might be considered an electronic device attached to a weapon.

aroshtr

 

[Hbb6601]

Talked to the head Worden today for region 5 and this is simply note true. I was told that it has never even been discussed...I think the first person must have had a misunderstanding with whoever they spoke with.

Perfect; thanks for checking!