Wildlife Suffers Due To Organized Poaching—Montanans Say Enough Is Enough

Criminal poaching rings in Montana have a significant impact on statewide wildlife populations. Here are some examples:

Central Montana

• In two separate organized poaching-ring investigations that came together in 2005, more than 100 mature big game carcasses were found. Each animal was decapitated and the carcass left to rot.
• Wildlife managers noted fewer adult deer in their annual surveys of the local deer population due to the illegal killing of many of the large and mature buck deer.
• The poaching rings were exposed by several calls to 1-800-TIP-MONT in 2003 and 2004.

Southwestern Montana

• Near Gardiner, between 1999 and 2004, a convicted commercial poacher was paid an estimated $90,000 by about 30 associates who poached more than 40 large and mature bull elk.
• During those years, more than 3,500 law-biding hunters would annually submit applications for about 100 either-sex permits for the "Gardiner late elk hunt."
• The poaching operation was exposed by a call to 1-800-TIP-MONT in 2003.

Northwestern Montana

• Near Seeley Lake, a family poaching ring in operation from 1990 to 2002 killed dozens of game animals, including elk, moose, bear, and antelope, and more 100 buck deer.
• Charges were eventually filed and the poachers were convicted in 2004.
• Wildlife managers noted a significant lack of mature buck deer when conducting annual surveys.
• The poaching ring was exposed by a routine hunter field check in eastern Montana.