A North Dakota man has been charged in Fergus County District Court with a series of wildlife violations centering around the killing of two bull elk in November 2024.

The man is accused of multiple misdemeanor and felony charges after an investigation by Montana game wardens showed that he allegedly killed two bull elk in Hunting District 417 without possessing a proper permit. He later hid and abandoned one elk carcass after being questioned by game wardens, and he was unable to retrieve the carcass of another bull elk after killing it on private land. He is also accused of driving off-road on state land.

No further details about the investigation are available at this time.

Potential penalties for the violations include more than $60,000 in fines and restitution, jail time, and loss of privileges to hunt, fish and trap. Persons accused of a crime are presumed to be innocent until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt.

Anyone with possible information about crimes against fish, wildlife or state land resources is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov or to contact a game warden in your area directly. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

From trophy poaching to opportunistic violations, we discuss the motivations behind these crimes, why prosecutors require more effective tools to pursue them, and how legislative changes could enhance wildlife protection.

Listen Now

Media contact: Jodi Stemler, 703-915-1386, jstemler@boone-crockett.org

Missoula, Mont. –—At a press conference held in Washington, DC, today, the Boone and Crockett Club announced the findings of the most comprehensive research project on poaching in this country. Using a Bayesian statistical framework, the Poach and Pay research determined that only about 4% of poaching incidents are detected. Setting a conservative estimate of what criminologists refer to as the “Dark Figure” of crimes that are undetected or unreported at 95%, the research found that the minimum conservation cost of poaching through lost fines and replacement costs for animals is $1.4 billion annually. The research also outlines the results of detailed interviews with stakeholders, typologies of poachers, barriers to prosecution of wildlife crime, and outlines specific actions that can be taken to reduce the amount of poaching in this country. The Boone and Crockett Club and partners will continue the Poach and Pay project to implement these actions with the goal of reducing the dark figure of poaching.

“We have long known that poaching is a major problem in the United States, but we didn’t truly understand the magnitude of the problem until this Poach and Pay research,” noted Boone and Crockett Club chief executive officer Tony A. Schoonen in his comments at the press conference. “With this defensible assessment of the Dark Figure, we can clearly describe the conservation cost of poaching and prove that poaching is not a victimless crime—not only do we lose individual wildlife, we are also losing a valuable public resource with a high cost.” Read more

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is seeking information about two separate poaching incidents in Game Management Unit 1 near Big Lake in the White Mountains.

• • July 20: Three cow elk were discovered shot and left to waste near the intersection of Forest Roads 249E and 24. AZGFD officials believe the incident took place around 8:15 p.m.
  • July 27: Four more elk — three cows and one bull — were discovered shot and left to waste off State Routes 273 and 261 near the turnoff to the campground at Big Lake. AZGFD officials believe the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. In addition, two bighorn sheep rams were discovered shot and left to waste that same day. The animals were found along Forest Road 249 near Three Forks, Ariz.

Read more

Thanks to a tip submitted through Fish and Game’s Citizens Against Poaching hotline about two suspicious deer heads, an investigation ensued that led to charges being filed.

Two Saint Maries men were charged on June 27 with 8 felonies related to the alleged unlawful take of seven mature white-tailed deer bucks. The investigation was conducted by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers in the Panhandle Region and resulted in documentation of 56 wildlife violations. Alleged violations were reviewed and final felony charges filed by the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office.

It is alleged that all seven deer were illegally killed during Nov. 2024, and five of the seven deer were killed in a single 24-hour period. Three of the bucks were classified as trophy white-tailed deer, which carries higher penalties than a non-trophy classification.

All deer were taken outside of legal shootings hours, and the meat from three deer was left to waste.

Because the case remains open with only charges filed against the defendants, more information is not available at this time. Additional details will be released upon conclusion of the case.

Fish and Game thanks the public for being diligent in reporting potential wildlife crimes and helping to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage the incredible fish and wildlife to which Idaho is home.

Anyone who observes or has information about any wildlife crime is encouraged to call the Citizen Against Poaching hotline at 1-(800) 632-5999. Information can also be reported online.

Citizens Against Poaching monetary rewards are available for individuals who provide credible, detailed information which significantly helps to identify person(s) involved and which leads to any relevant charges for a wildlife crime.

Information about potential wildlife crimes can also be reported to the Panhandle Regional Office at (208) 769-1414.