Montana’s Weird and Quirky Laws Still on the Books

Big Sky Country ain’t just known for its wide-open spaces, blue-ribbon trout streams, and wild rodeos. Nope — Montana’s legal code is a gold mine for weird and wacky laws that sound more like barroom dares than real rules. Some of these date back to the days of dusty saloons and cowpoke justice, while others seem designed to solve problems only a Montanan could imagine.

Pull up a stump, pour yourself a cup of that strong cowboy coffee, and let’s wander through some of Montana’s funniest and strangest laws — from sheep etiquette to outlaw booger flicking.

Livestock & Animal Laws: When the Sheep Outnumber the People

Sheep Must Have Chaperones

Montana folks take livestock seriously, so much so that it’s illegal to transport a sheep in the cab of your truck without a human chaperone. That chaperone must be at least 18 years old, just in case ol’ Wooly tries anything. Some say it’s to prevent theft, others say it’s to keep the sheep from distracting drivers, but either way, don’t let your sheep ride shotgun solo!
Read more | Keyz Radio | MT Trials

Don’t Leave Sheep Unattended

Similarly, you can’t just leave your sheep alone in the truck cab. You might think “What’s the harm?” but lawmakers figured a lonely sheep is a sheep in danger — of theft, mischief, or who-knows-what.
More details

Sheep and Railroad Tracks

If you’re feeling real outlaw and lead sheep onto railroad tracks to damage a train, get ready for a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. And don’t think that’s just a tall tale — Montana’s got a statute for nearly everything.
See for yourself | Only in Your State

No Horses or Mules in Bars

Folks used to ride their horses and mules straight into the saloon after a long trail ride. That kind of fun is over — it’s illegal to bring a horse or pack mule into a bar these days. Sorry, Trigger, you’re drinking water at the trough out back.
Source

Fishing & Hunting Rules: Sorry, No Lassos or Drunk Fish

No Lasso Fishing

Montana’s rivers are world-famous, but if you show up with a lasso instead of a fly rod, the law’s gonna have a word with you. Using a lasso to catch a fish is strictly prohibited. This keeps the “sport” in sport fishing and probably spares a few trout from being roped into oblivion.
Ori Magazine

No Airplane Hunting

If you thought about using a crop duster to scope elk from the sky, don’t. Hunting from an airplane is as illegal as it sounds — both for safety and fair chase reasons.
XL Country

Women’s Fishing Restrictions: Myth or Law?

You’ll see it all over the internet: “Unmarried women can’t fish alone in Montana, and married women can’t fish alone on Sundays.” But legal experts say this one’s a legend — it’s not actually in the books. Still, it makes for a heck of a story at the bait shop.
Debunked here

No Beer for Fish

Giving a fish a beer is a crime, believe it or not. Not sure how that even got started, but leave the brews for your buddies — not your catch.
My 103.5 | Ori Magazine

City-Slicker Laws: Billings, Helena, Whitehall & More

Billings Laws

No Pet Rats

If you live in Billings and love rats, tough luck. It’s illegal to raise, sell, harbor, or give away rats as pets. The only exception? If you’re feeding a reptile or doing legitimate research. Fines go up to $500 — and it all started with a wild rat hoarding incident years ago.
Read the story

Multiple Alarm Clocks

Are you a heavy sleeper? In Billings, you can own as many alarm clocks as you want — but only one can ring at a time. If more than one goes off at once, you’re technically breaking the law.
MT Beyond

Pool Tables Must Be Visible

Got a pool hall? Your tables have to be visible from the street. No hiding behind curtains — law says it’s about gambling transparency.
Only in Your State

Helena Laws

No Sprinkler Water on Sidewalks

Helena wants dry pedestrians. It’s illegal to have your sprinklers or hoses spray water onto sidewalks or streets “to the annoyance of passersby.” Don’t go soaking the neighbors, unless you want a ticket.
Helena Code

No Night Folfing

In Helena’s downtown, playing frisbee golf (aka folf) after dark is banned — unless it’s on a city-approved course.
Are These Real?

No Throwing Items Across Streets

Tossing anything across a street in Helena — from a football to a birthday card — can land you in hot water.
Source

Whitehall Laws

No Booger Flicking

Believe it or not, in Whitehall it’s illegal to flick a booger into the wind. Somebody must’ve done it one too many times…
My 103.5 | YouTube

No Honking at Sandwich Shops After 9PM

Feel like honking for your hoagie? Better do it before 9:00 PM, or you’re violating a local ordinance.
XL Country

Statewide Oddities: Ice Picks, Skunks, and Alarm Clocks

No Ice Picks on Wheels

Putting ice picks or metal studs on your tires will get you a ticket, mostly for tearing up Montana’s roads.
KYSS FM

Mail Opening Restrictions

Opening your spouse’s mail without their permission can land you in real trouble — it’s a felony under both federal and Montana law.
Only in Your State | K99

No Skunks as Pets

Thinking about a skunk as a family pet? Not in Montana, friend — statewide ban.
My 103.5

Animal Abuse Simulation

Don’t even pretend to abuse an animal in front of a kid. The law says 2–20 years in prison for that, prank or not.
KYSS FM

Sexual Position Restrictions

Montana’s “obscene acts” law has been interpreted as “only missionary position is legal.” Really, it’s about outlawing acts without “artistic, scientific, or literary value,” but folks sure like to run wild with it.
Spartan Scoop

One Ringing Alarm Clock

Yep — that weird Billings alarm clock law? It’s actually statewide: only one ringing at a time.
K99

Exception for Whales

Montana bans shooting animals from moving vehicles — with a bizarre exception for whales. Landlocked state, but there’s the law!
My 103.5

More of Montana’s Odd and Goofy Laws

Obstructive Objects and Activities

No Pea‐Shooters or Toy Shooters:
Flinging peas or rubber bands around is banned statewide, meant to keep kids from causing too much mischief (MT Beyond).
No Throwing Balls or Hard Objects:
Don’t go chuckin’ baseballs or rocks across parks or roads “in a manner that endangers persons or property.” Sorry, sandlot dreamers — that pickup game better stay in the yard.
No Throwing Items Across Streets:
Across Montana, tossing anything (frisbees, paper airplanes, you name it) over public roads is a misdemeanor in plenty of towns.

Communication and Entertainment Rules

No Speed‐Dial Buttons on Telephones:
An old law bans speed‐dial and one-touch dialing — every call has to be manual. Guess they really wanted folks to slow down and think about their calls.
No Leaving the Stage During Performances:
Performers leaving the stage mid-show (without permission) can get fined in some city-owned theaters. This started during the Wild West show era when actors would get “stage fright” and run off.
No Showing Felonies in Movies:
City codes once forbade showing films that depicted felony crimes — can’t have those “immoral influences” corrupting the popcorn crowd.

Weapons and Violence Restrictions

No Guns at City Council Meetings:
Don’t bring your guns, explosives, or even slingshots to government meetings. They like their politics loud, but not that loud.
No Simulated Animal Abuse Near Minors:
Even pretending to hurt an animal near kids is a felony, up to 20 years in the big house.

Water, Fire, and Noise Controls

No Water on Sidewalks:
Don’t water your sidewalk or let your sprinkler annoy passersby in places like Helena. It’s all about keepin’ folks dry — and lawsuits at bay.
No Firing Fireworks Outside Designated Dates:
In Great Falls and some other towns, you’ll get fined if you light fireworks before or after July 4th.
No Night “Folfing”:
After-dark frisbee golf is banned in downtown areas unless you’re on an official course.

Animal and Pet Regulations

No Skunks as Pets:
Skunks are classified as dangerous wildlife, not house pets.
No Giving Beer to Fish:
Save that cold one for yourself — it’s against the law to get your catch tipsy.

Transportation Oddities

No Ice Picks on Wheels:
Any kind of studded or spiked tire is forbidden unless the snow’s piling up and the law allows it for winter traction.
Exception for Whales:
Still cracks me up — Montana law lets you shoot whales from a moving vehicle, even though the only whales around here are in storybooks.

Truth vs. Fiction: Separating Law from Legend

Let’s set the record straight. Some of these statutes are real and enforceable (like the Billings rat ban and Helena’s sprinkler rule), while others are pure Montana legend (looking at you, “women can’t fish alone” law). Most are relics, kept around because it’s harder to take ‘em off the books than to just let ‘em sit there, gathering dust — and giggles.

Even so, Montana’s legal code paints a picture of a place that’s rugged, a little rebellious, and a whole lot of fun.

FAQ

Are any of these laws actually enforced?
Almost never. Most are “dead laws” — they exist, but nobody’s watching. The sheep chaperone law, though? You might get a weird look, but probably not a ticket.

Why do these weird Montana laws exist?
Frontier days, one-of-a-kind incidents, and a whole lotta creativity from lawmakers with time on their hands.

Can I really get fined for flicking a booger or having two alarm clocks ring at once?
Technically, yes — but you’d probably have to annoy the right (or wrong) person first.

Why is there a law about shooting whales from cars?
No one knows. It’s probably a copy-paste job from a coastal state’s lawbook that never got edited.

What’s the strangest Montana law you’ve heard?
Booger flickin’ is up there. But so is needing an adult chaperone for your sheep.

Sources

All sources below are live links, just like a grizzly in the river:

If you ever get ticketed for too many alarm clocks or a drunk fish, remember ol’ Montana Max tried to warn ya.

Montana Max, over and out.

Wanna keep up with Montana Max and the wild ride that is The 406 Life? Follow us on Instagram for daily snapshots of Big Sky livin’, and join our Facebook crew—both the main page and the group—for local biz shoutouts, behind-the-scenes shenanigans, and real-deal Montana grit. Whether you’re scrollin’ from the mountains or missin’ ‘em from afar, we’ve got a seat ’round the digital campfire waitin’ for ya.

And don’t forget to roam through our blog, where Montana Max dishes out tales from the trail, cultural deep-dives, and a whole lotta backwoods wisdom.