Montana Hunters Facing Huge Penalties For Massive Duck Kill

A morning on the Sun River turned into a massive legal headache for two hunters who were "only" about 200 birds over the legal limit.

MAJOR WATERFOWL FOULS

Angela Montana, digital editor and outdoor writer for the Montana Outdoor Radio Show put her unique spin on the misdeeds of two hunters, originally shared by the Billings Gazette and The Meateater.

Angela writes, "It turns out there’s a very thin line between stocking the freezer and wildlife racketeering, and two Montana hunters just crossed it by about 200 birds.

"In Montana, the daily limit is seven ducks. John Carullo and Matthew Krekelberg decided that wasn’t a goal, but a suggestion they could ignore by a factor of ten. When a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden rolled up to their private-land honey hole in January, he didn’t just find a few extra birds—he found 66 ducks chilling on the ground.

"But the investigation didn’t stop at the riverbank. A search of a local shop uncovered a literal mountain of waterfowl.

"Mr. Krekelberg’s defense was essentially the “I lost count” card, claiming he just wanted enough meat to last the year. Meanwhile, Mr. Carullo admitted to hitting the river two dozen times that season. These guys were treating the Sun River like a grocery store aisle with a broken scanner."

READ MORE: Joint Custody? The Unique Lifestyle of Montana 'Prairie Ghosts'

HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN

• Total ducks seized: 223
• Kill count over just two days: 120
• Legal possession limit: 21 per person

The state of Montana isn’t exactly laughing. Since each duck carries a $25 restitution value, the pair is looking at:

• Fines: Up to $50,000.
• Prison: Up to 5 years (felony charges).
• Social Life: A 3-year ban on hunting, fishing, and trapping.

THE IRONY

After seizing the evidence, officials actually let them keep their legal limit of 21 birds each.