Six Suspects Charged in Another Ugly Montana Poaching Incident

It is amazing how many more stories like these are surfacing.

Can we attribute that to increased media publicity and awareness? Possibly. Can we attribute that to an increase in these hideous offenses? Yeah, unfortunately, that is probably accurate as well.

The latest we've come across deals with a long-term investigation involving six individuals from Montana and Washington state. And sadly, they were busy guys over about a four-year stretch.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that game wardens recently charged six individuals with unlawfully killing several bull elk and mule deer bucks in the Bull Mountains near Roundup between 2020 and 2024.

The investigation began with information provided to Montana FWP wardens by a confidential informant. After an extensive investigation, wardens found that the group of both residents and nonresidents killed several large bull elk without required elk permits and also killed several large mule deer without hunting licenses.

During the investigation, Montana wardens traveled to Washington state to execute search warrants and seized several mounts of unlawfully killed elk and deer. Wardens also seized multiple elk and deer mounts in Montana. In total, 11 mounts were seized as evidence in the investigation.

The individuals involved in this case have been issued 34 total charges and 13 warnings by FWP wardens. These charges total close to $23,000 in bond and restitution.

These charges will be processed by the Musselshell County Justice Court. Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt. No further details about the investigation are available at this time.

FWP wardens did want to make sure we thanked the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Billings Police Department, and the Musselshell County Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.