Brief Overview Of Montana State Laws Concerning Air Guns
Montana has no laws regulating air guns.
How old do you need to be to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun in Montana?
In Montana you must be 18 Years Old to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun.
Montana Air Gun Hunting Regulations
Montana allows air gun hunting for certain species. These species include:
• Coyote
• Porcupine
• Rabbit
• Skunk
• Small Game
• Squirrel
• Woodchuck
Air Gun Laws In Local Jurisdictions
Below are the laws and ordinances for local jurisdictions in the state of Montana regarding airguns, BB guns, pellet guns and airsoft guns:
BAKER, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
Chapter 9.52 AIR RIFLES – Baker, Montana – Code of Ordinances
Sections:
9.52.010 – Discharging air rifle or BB gun.
(a) It is unlawful for any person, regardless of age, to discharge any air rifle, BB gun or similar instrument at any place within the city limits.
(b) The provision set forth in subsection (a) shall not apply in those cases where air rifles or BB guns are being discharged under a supervised training program or under supervised competition under the sponsorship of the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, Webelos, or other similar organization wherein such activities are under the supervision and control of trained and qualified leaders and instructors in the use of air rifles or BB guns and in conjunction with a program being carried on for the instruction and competition involving air rifles or BB guns.
(Ord. 273, 1986; Ord. 156 §1, 1956).
9.52.020 – Gun taken outside home—Minor accompanied by parent.
It is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen years to be in possession, outside of the confines of their home, within the limits of the city, of any air rifle, BB gun or similar instrument, unless said person shall be accompanied by one of their parents or a guardian.
(Ord. 156 §2, 1956).
9.52.030 – Violation.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person over the legal age of majority who shall be convicted of violation of this chapter shall be punished as set forth in Section 1.01.110. Any minor violating the provisions of this act, shall be immediately placed in custody of the probation officer of Fallon County, Montana, to be dealt with according to his orders and the orders of the district judge of Fallon County, Montana. In all cases, in the event of any violation of this chapter, the air rifle, BB gun or similar instrument, shall be confiscated by the city police and disposed of at his discretion.
(Ord. 156 §3, 1956).
BILLINGS, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
ARTICLE 18-200. WEAPONS Billings, Montana Code of Ordinances
Sec. 18-202. Possession of b-b guns, spring guns, slingshots, beanies.
(a) Prohibition. No person within the city shall have within his or her possession, except within his or her own domicile, or carry or use any air gun, “b-b” gun, gas operated gun or spring gun, or any instrument, toy, or weapon commonly known as a “pea shooter,” “slingshot,” or “beanie,” or any instrument made for the purpose of throwing or projecting missiles of any kind by any means whatsoever except those described in section 18-201, whether such instrument is called by any name set forth in this subsection, or by any other name. The prohibition of this section shall not apply to the possession of an unloaded “b-b” gun, gas operated gun or spring gun by a person, in the daylight hours, when going from his domicile to a point outside the city or returning from a point outside the city to his domicile. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent a person from using such instrument in the lawful defense of his or her person, property or family.
(b) Forfeiture of weapons. Every person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) shall forfeit to the city the weapons or instruments so involved in the violation of this section.
(c) Disposition of confiscated weapons. Every police officer, upon making any arrest and taking weapons used in violation of subsection (a) shall deliver the same to the city judge to be held by him or her until the final determination of the prosecution of the offense. Upon the finding of guilt, it shall then be the duty of the judge to cause the weapons to be delivered to the city administrator who shall make disposition of the weapons.
(Code 1967, §10.44.020)
Sec. 18-203. Sale or transfer of “b-b” guns, spring guns, slingshots, beanies, to persons under eighteen years of age.
(a) It is unlawful for any person engaged in the business of selling or renting, to sell, lend, rent, give or otherwise transfer an air-gun, “b-b” gun, gas operated gun or spring gun, or any instrument, toy or weapon, commonly known as a “pea shooter,” “slingshot” or “beanie” to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years where the dealer knows or has reasonable cause to believe the person to be under eighteen (18) years of age or where such dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry relative to the age of such person and such person is under eighteen (18) years of age.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to give, lend or otherwise transfer any air-gun, “b-b” gun, gas operated gun or spring gun, or any instrument, toy or weapon, commonly known as a “pea shooter,” “slingshot” or “beanie,” to any person under eighteen (18) years of age except where the relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward, or adult instructor and pupil exists between such person and the person under eighteen (18) years of age.
(Code 1967, § 10.44.030)
BOZEMAN, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
DIVISION 2. WEAPONS
Sec. 24.07.150. Discharge of air-guns prohibited when.
No person shall, within the limits of the city, shoot or discharge any toy air pistol or rifle shooting lead shot, or missile of metal, wood or other hard substance.
(Code 1982, § 9.90.010)
ARTICLE 2. PARK REGULATIONS Bozeman, Montana Code of Ordinances
Sec. 26.02.030. Park prohibitions.
A. It is unlawful for any person in a park or in or adjacent to a recreational facility to:
18. Bring or discharge any firearm, air gun, bow and arrow, slingshot, atlatl, spear, boomerang or any other form of potentially dangerous weapon into a park or recreational facility;
BUTTE-SILVER BOW, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
Chapter 9.24 WEAPONS – Butte-Silver Bow County, Montana – Code of Ordinances
9.24.030 – Definitions.
In this chapter the following definitions shall apply:
A. “Air gun” means an instrument used in the propulsion of projectiles by the action of compressed gas or spring
E. “Firearm” means an instrument used in the propulsion of pellets, shot, shell or bullets by the action of gunpowder, air, springs, carbon dioxide or any other gas which operates a gun, rifle or pistol.
I. “Temporary shooting range” means a public or private area, place or location, either enclosed or outdoors, that is in operation for a period of seven days or less and at which air guns are discharged at targets and which is designed so that projectiles fired at targets are prevented by means of backstops or other barriers, either natural or manmade, from going beyond the boundaries of the area, place or location.
(Ord. 98-14 1, 1998; Ord. 310 3, 1987)
(Ord. No. 11-6, § 1, 8-17-2011)
9.24.050 – Exceptions.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
A. A peace officer in the performance of his duty;
B. Any person discharging firearms or bows and arrows within a shooting range if the shooting range has been approved by the council of commissioners;
C. Any person whose discharge of an air gun within a temporary shooting range that has been approved by the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department.
D. Any person whose discharge of a firearm or bow and arrow is justified in defense of life or property under Title 45, Chapter 3, Part 1, Montana Code Annotated.
(Ord. 310 5, 1987)
(Ord. No. 11-6, § 2, 8-17-2011)
9.24.060 – Approval and design of shooting ranges—Issuance of shooting range and temporary shooting range permits.
The provisions of this title shall not apply to:
A. Firearms, air guns, or bows and arrows may be discharged within shooting ranges located within the regulated area described in Section 9.24.030 or in a private dwelling if a permit for the shooting range is approved by the council of commissioners.
B. Air guns or bows and arrows may be discharged within temporary shooting ranges located within the regulated area described in Section 9.24.030 or in a private dwelling if a permit for the temporary shooting range is approved by the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department.
(Ord. 310 7, 1987)
9.24.080 – Penalty—Jurisdiction.
Any person convicted of any violation of the provisions of this chapter for the offense of unauthorized discharge of firearms or bows and arrows within the regulated area defined in Section 9.24.030 of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed six months, or both. Jurisdiction for such violations shall be in the city court of Butte-Silver Bow.
(Ord. 310 8, 1987)
Chapter 9.28 CARRYING OF WEAPONS OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ON CERTAIN PUBLIC PROPERTY REGULATED
9.28.030 – Definitions.
The following terms shall have the following meanings in this chapter:
G. “Weapon” means any handgun, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, air rifle, slingshot, sword cane, billy, knuckles made of any metal or hard substance, knife with a blade four inches long or longer, razor, not including a safety razor, or other deadly weapon.
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
No listed air gun ordinances listed.
HAMILTON, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
Chapter 9.32 WEAPONS – Hamilton, Montana – Code of Ordinances
9.32.010 – Firearms.
A. The word “firearms” shall include and mean any instrument or device which uses the explosive action of gun powder, compressed air, or the power of springs, which shall include air-guns, BB guns, and all manner of what is commonly known as firearms.
B. Discharge of firearms.
1. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to discharge firearms as described above, or any other description, within the limits of the city, or on any premises owned or controlled by the city, provided however, this shall not apply to the city police, or other peace officers of the United States or the State of Montana in the discharge of their duty, nor shall it apply to authorized military funerals, or Memorial Day exercises, nor to any special permit when issued by the city.
2. The city is empowered to issue permits, in its discretion, to gun clubs, exhibitions or other shooting, and such permit shall specify the place, time, date or dates and any other requirements which the council may deem necessary.
C. Permit fees. The council may make a charge for any such permit as they may deem expedient, but not more than one dollar ($1.00) per day.
(Ord. 131 (part), 1998: prior code § 9.06.100)
Chapter 12.20 CITY PARKS – Hamilton, Montana – Code of Ordinances
12.20.020 – Firearms and other weapons prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to possess or use any type of weapon, bow and arrow, air gun or firearm as defined in Section 9.32.010 of the Hamilton Municipal Code within the boundaries of any city park or to possess or use any similar type weapon or instrument within a city park.
(Ord. No. 329, Ext. A, 5-19-09)
12.20.045 – Violation—Penalty.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to the penalties as provided by Chapter 1.28 of this Code.
LIBBY, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
No listed air gun ordinances listed.
MILES CITY, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – Miles City, Montana – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 16-45. – Carrying weapon in prohibited place.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to purposely or knowingly carry, concealed or unconcealed, any dirk, dagger, pistol, revolver, BB gun, air or pellet gun, slingshot, sword, sword cane, billy, knuckles made of any metal or hard substance, knife having a blade four inches long or longer, razor, not including a safety razor, or other deadly weapon in the following places:
(1) In a publicly owned building within the city limits;
(2) In a park within the city, unless such person has a concealed weapon permit (CWP) valid in the State of Montana;
(3) In a school within the city limits.
ROUNDUP, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
Chapter 18 OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS – Roundup, Montana – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 18-5. – Slingshots, spring or air rifles.
Any person who, within the city limits, carries concealed upon his person, or who shall attempt to fire or discharge or who shall fire or discharge any slingshot, spring or air rifle, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with section 1-10.
STEVENSVILLE, MONTANA – Airgun Laws and Ordinances
No listed air gun ordinances listed.
Disclaimer
These rules and regulations were compiled to the best of my ability. The information on this article should not constitute as legal advice. Always check with your local jurisdiction for the final ruling.