Poaching Big Horn Sheep In The Elkhorn Mountains Bags Toston Man A $30,000 Fine And Five Years Felony Probation

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January 2000, the head of a male big horn sheep was discovered in an abandoned building outside of Radersburg.   The animal was identified as one of several recently released in the Crow Creek drainage of the Elkhorn Mountains.  

FWP Game Wardens Chris Anderson and Chad Murphy investigated leads provided by the FWP TIP-MONT violation hotline and local sources.

Their work led them to a 39-year old suspect from Toston who was sentenced for felony possession of an unlawfully taken bighorn sheep.  

The district court judge ordered the man to pay $30,000 in restitution to the state and placed him on felony probation for five years.   He also forfeited his Montana hunting and fishing privileges for three years. The restitution amount is set in statute.   In this case, the sheep’s horns exceeded a ¾ curl, qualifying the offense for $30,000 in restitution.

“This is a classic example of how the public can and does take a front line role in the protection of the state’s resources,” said Warden Captain Jim Kropp. Often, there are no witnesses to wildlife crimes.   Wardens have to rely heavily on other sources of information.  

“It was with the help of witnesses, outraged at this violation, that this individual was ultimately brought to justice,” Kropp said.   “Once again, Montanans demonstrated that they will not tolerate senseless acts of wildlife vandalism, wanton waste and the killing of game animals for personal gain.”