Returning from the road on a multi-state investigation, Montana game wardens have seized over a dozen illegally killed animals and are racking up charges against those guilty of the crimes.
The investigation led agents to Wyoming, Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky in search of a number of animals that were poached in Montana. Of the species confiscated during their travels, officers returned with seven elk, six mule deer, three whitetail deer and a pair of pronghorn.
“These cases involve complex, long-term investigations of the most serious type of violations of hunting laws in Montana,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Chief of Law Enforcement Ron Howell, in a release. “Without the assistance of officers from the states involved, these cases would likely not be successfully investigated and prosecuted.”
While the agency has not released the names, or even the number of people charged with the crimes, they did cite a number of pending charges including license fraud, hunting without licenses, hunting during a closed season, over-limits of game animals, waste of game animals, tag transfer and unlawful possession of game animals.
“These investigations highlight the hard work and tenacity of our wardens to ensure that serious violations are investigated, and suspects are held accountable for those violations,” Howell said, adding that, “charges are still pending in all of the cases.”
