A Spotlight On The Consequences Of An Illegal Hunt In Montana

What Happens When You Hunt Illegally In Montana

An out-of-state couple are finding themselves almost $10,000 poorer after using some even poorer decision-making in Montana.

It ends an investigation that started almost 3 years ago after a tip relayed to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

FWP Investigates Tip That Leads To Major Hunting Violation

Back in September 2022, the Montana FWP was told about a potential bait site just outside of Plevna, according to NBC Montana.

While investigating the tip, the wardens found a cellular game camera belonging to Justin Wiseman of Sentinel Butte, North Dakota.

What the wardens found next after doing a little more digging into Justin was what led to him and his wife being found guilty.

Montana FWP Revokes Hunting Rights In Major Poaching Case

After finding the camera and determining they were using it along with the bait site to track and unlawfully attract game animals.

They then found a social media post showing pictures of Justin's wife and a large mule deer buck published in November of 2022.

While many people post their successful hunts, the problem here, the FWP says, is that the deer was taken by the wife without a license and then tagged by Justin.

All in all, the couple was fined $600 but was also ordered to pay restitution, which totaled $8,000.

They both have also lost their hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for two years.