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In the early 1980s, the law enforcement units of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies discussed the concept of a compact between states to address wildlife violations based on the format in use by a number of states for handling motor vehicle violations by visitors to other states. Wildlife and resource protection needed some additional teeth when dealing with individuals who moved freely among and violated the wildlife and resource laws in various states.
When a person has their hunting, fishing and/or trapping privileges legally suspended in the Compact state where the violation(s) occurred, the suspension may be recognized by all of the member states of the Compact. Having your privileges suspended in Montana means you may also be prevented from hunting, fishing and/or trapping in all the Compact member states. This not only prevents chronic violators from simply moving their activity to another state, it provides a deterrent that is often more powerful than monetary fines and penalties.
The Compact provides a benefit for violators, as well. Non-compact states often prevent their officers from releasing a non-resident violator on their own recognizance, for lack of jurisdiction when the violator leaves the state. Consequently, non-resident violators in a non-compact state are typically required to post substantial cash bonds to encourage their compliance with the ticket, or else be booked into jail until they can post bond or appear before the judge.
Under the Compact, if violator fails to comply with a ticket issued in a member state, the issuing state can request the violator's home state to immediately suspend the violator's hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in their state until they comply. With that ability, the non-resident violator (if a resident of a Compact state) in many cases can be handled in the same manner as a resident violator and released on his or her own recognizance. This saves the violator from having to produce a potentially large sum of cash for bond, or a trip to the county jail. Nevertheless, the non-resident violator may still be arrested for violations that have jail time as a mandatory penalty, any felony violations, or any crimes that the arresting officer would deem serious enough to arrest a resident violator.
In 1999, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources developed a system that allows each state to enter their suspension information into the IWVC database. This information can be downloaded by member states to run checks against their state's license files for persons purchasing licenses while under suspension.
Montana became a member of the IWVC on February 3, 1996 and the IWVC became law under Title 87, Chapter 1, Part 8 of the Montana Code. In the spring of 2004, MFWP fully integrated the IWVC database with the new MFWP Automated Licensing System and Internet License Sales. The integration of these systems identifies persons with privilege suspensions who purchase or attempt to purchase licenses or enter drawings for which they are ineligible. Attempting to purchase or purchasing a license or permit while under privilege suspension in Montana, or any Compact member state, is unlawful under Montana Code 87-6-310 and 87-6-306, and will result in additional fines and extended suspensions of hunting, fishing and/or trapping privileges.
View the International Organization of Natural Resources Crimestoppers (IANRC) video about cooperative efforts to reduce the illegal taking of North America's fish and wildlife resources.
Questions? You can obtain information about the IWVC in Montana by contacting:
Law Enforcement Division of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, Montana 59620
Phone (406) 444-2452.
It is your responsibility to contact any member state where you intend to obtain or attempt to obtain any license, permit or tag to determine your eligibility to purchase that license, permit or tag, or to determine if appeal procedures are available. You may determine your eligibility by inquiring in writing to the specific member state at the address listed below.
Law Enforcement
64 N Union St, Suite 559
P.O. Box 301459
Montgomery, AL 36130
Law Enforcement
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, AK 99802-5526
Law Enforcement Division—IWVC
2221 W Greenway Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85023-4312
#2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
Law Enforcement Branch
1416 Ninth St, Ste 1326
Sacramento, CA 95814
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216-1029
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
620 South Meridian St
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6543
Law Enforcement
2065 US Hwy 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025-4743
Law Enforcement Division
600 S Walnut
P.O. Box 25
Boise, ID 83712-7729
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1270
Law Enforcement Division
402 W Washington St
Room W225D
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2243
Law Enforcement Bureau
Wallace State Office Bldg.
502 E 9th & St
Des Moines, IA 50319-5005
512 SE 25th Ave
Pratt, KS 67124-8174
Law Enforcement Division
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
2000 Quail Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70898
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
580 Taylor Ave, E-3
Annapolis, MD 21401-2352
530 W Allegan
P.O. Box 30031
Lansing, MI 48909-7531
Enforcement Division
500 Layfette Rd, Box 47
St. Paul, MN 55155-4040
1505 Eastover Dr
Jackson, MS 39211-6322
Protection Division
P.O. Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180
Law Enforcement Division
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
2200 N 33rd Street
Lincoln, NE 68503-1417
Law Enforcement Division
1100 Valley Rd
P.O. Box 10678
Reno, NV 89512-2817
11 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08609
P.O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, NM 87507-9210
Division of Fish & Wildlife
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-0001
1717 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1700
Chief of Law Enforcement
100 N Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58501-5086
1930 Belcher Dr
Fountain Square Bldg, D
Columbus, OH 43224
1801 N. Lincoln
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Law Enforcement Branch
255 Capitol St NE, 4th Floor
Salem, OR 97310-0001
Bureau of Wildlife Protection
2001 Elmerton Ave
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797
235 Promenade St
Providence, RI 02908
P.O. Box 168
Columbia, SC 29202-0167
Division of Wildlife
523 E Capitol Ave
Pierre, SD 57501
Ellington Ag Center
P.O. Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204-0747
Fish & Wildlife Enforcement
4200 Smith School Rd
Austin, TX 78744
Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
P.O. Box 146301
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2
Montpelier, VT 05620-3702
4009 West Broad St
Richmond, VA 23229
600 Capitol Way N
Olympia, WA 98501-1076
Law Enforcement
Bldg 3, Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305
101 S Webster St
Madison, WI 53707
Law Enforcement Division
3030 Energy Ln, Suite 100
Casper, WY 82604-2916