Illegal Trophy Hunter Convicted

I’m a member of several wildlife and habitat preservation groups. Good people who work very hard to do the right thing and behave ethically in the field.

There are so many hunters in Montana that play by the rules and have respect for the game they hunt. Guys like this just really upset me:

An Idaho man will pay $13,205 and lose his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for life for illegally obtaining a resident hunting license and killing a trophy bighorn sheep in the Missouri River Breaks.

Roger J. Woodworth, 64, of Hayden, Idaho, was sentenced Nov. 6 by state district Judge W. Nels Swandal.

In 2009, Woodworth illegally bought a resident hunting license, then applied and was drawn in the lottery for an either-sex bighorn license in hunting district 482 in the Breaks north of Lewistown.

In 2010, FWP game warden Todd Anderson investigated a TIPMONT call with information regarding the residency status of Woodworth.

In August 2010, FWP game wardens went to a relative’s house in Stevensville and seized the mounted sheep head. At the same time, FWP game wardens with the assistance of Idaho Fish and Game interviewed Woodworth at his Idaho residence.

Woodworth was charged with unlawful possession of a trophy bighorn sheep, a felony, and hunting bighorn sheep without a valid license, a misdemeanor. In the plea agreement, Woodworth has to:

• Pay a fine of $735 plus court costs of $75.
• Pay $12,395 restitution to the state.
• Give up his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for life.
• Give up the bighorn sheep mount.

Woodworth also agreed to plead guilty to illegally obtaining resident hunting licenses in unrelated cases in Missoula and Lewis and Clark counties and pay fines of $600.