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montana department of fish

Montana FWP struggles with more hunters as there are fewer private lands to hunt

Much like the current U.S. economy, Montana’s most-prized hunter access program is facing a K-shaped conundrum. On the one hand, the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Block Management Program is seeing increased demand, rising from around 250,000 hunters in 1999 to close to 700,

Lawman turns tables on poachers by claiming trophies, but the prey is elusive

Lawman turns tables on poachers by claiming trophies, but the prey is elusive

Ben Krakowka has the heads of two big-horn sheep hanging in his office in the Butte-Silver Bow County courthouse. One is from the time he lucked out, drew a sheep tag and shot one himself. The other, he said, is from the time he successfully prosecuted a sheep

Lawman turns tables on poachers by claiming trophies, but the prey is elusive

Lawman turns tables on poachers by claiming trophies, but the prey is elusive

Ben Krakowka has the heads of two big-horn sheep hanging in his office in the Butte-Silver Bow County courthouse. One is from the time he lucked out, drew a sheep tag and shot one himself. The other, he said, is from the time he successfully prosecuted a sheep

Are game wardens flying blind in fight against poachers? Critics question data.

Are game wardens flying blind in fight against poachers? Critics question data.

A collared wolf shot near Yellowstone out of season. Four bucks decapitated in Carbon County. A pair of elk left to waste at Georgetown Lake, and two more left unclaimed near Toston. Poaching cases – including these from just the past few months – keep popping up across all corners of Montana,

Silent slaughter: Warden estimates majority of poaching cases go unsolved, undetected

Lou Royce, a game warden sergeant based in the Bitterroot Valley, has seen and investigated all kinds of wildlife crimes and poaching cases in his nearly two decades working for the state in various positions. This part of Montana has long been a hotspot for poaching. There have been incidents

FWP's statement on the lengthy poaching investigation in northeastern Montana

From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks: Offenders focused on unlawful hunting of mule deer bucks in HD 652 HELENA – A poaching investigation in northeastern Montana that lasted more than two and a half years, ended with several men being sentenced last month in the Montana 16th Judicial District Court in

Four Montana men hit with 33 charges after alleged trophy bull elk and deer poaching

Four Montana men face 33 criminal charges for a series of poaching incidents across the state, according to court documents filed last month in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Authorities allege that some or all of the group was involved in illegally harvesting six bull elk, three mule deer,