24.171.601    GUIDE OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDE QUALIFICATIONS

(1) An applicant for a guide or professional guide license shall have:

(a) not less than one season of experience of hunting or fishing for the type of game for which the applicant will guide or have worked for the outfitter that signs the license for a period of at least six weeks and in the area to be guided in, or have successfully completed a school licensed by a state, approved by the board, and that trains persons to be a guide or professional guide;

(b) knowledge of hunting and fishing techniques to provide the particular services contracted to the client by the endorsing outfitter; and

(c) knowledge of equipment, terrain and hazards to competently provide a safe experience for those persons he or she guides.

(2) An applicant for a professional guide's license shall meet the following qualifications in addition to the qualifications in (1) :

(a) have held a guide license in the state of Montana for at least three years;

(b) have not had disciplinary action taken against the applicant's guide license in this or any other state; and

(c) have spent at least 300 days guiding clients in the field as evidenced by:

(i) employment records, or

(ii) client report logs of endorsing outfitters.

(d) The applicant shall produce, on a form provided by the board, character references from:

(i) three clients the guide has guided,

(ii) one licensed outfitter, and

(iii) one licensed guide.

(e) A professional guide shall present evidence of 15 hours of training or education obtained in the year previous to application in addition to guiding experience, in topics relevant to guiding as approved by the board.

(3) An outfitter whose license is currently suspended or revoked is not qualified for a guide or professional guide license.

History: 37-1-131, 37-47-201, MCA; IMP, 37-47-101, 37-47-201, 37-47-303, 37-47-307, MCA; NEW, 1988 MAR p. 1666, Eff. 7/29/88; AMD, 1996 MAR p. 668, Eff. 3/8/96; AMD, 1998 MAR p. 2560, Eff. 9/25/98; TRANS, from Commerce, & AMD, 2006 MAR p. 324, Eff. 2/10/06.