Thanks to Tips, Montana Hunters Pay Price for an Illegal Elk Kill

Thanks to concerned citizens, we have another solved case of poaching sleaze.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that two Montana men pleaded guilty to charges related to the illegal harvest of a brow-tined bull elk. And wardens have an anonymous tip to thank for tracking them down.

At the tail end of last year's general big game hunting season, Montana FWP wardens received the tip that a bull elk had been taken illegally in Hunting District 704 in southeast Montana. Region 7 Game Warden Sgt. Casey Prell and Game Warden Oliver Gulig identified two suspects, collected evidence, and determined neither suspect possessed the required permit for legal harvest of brow-tined bull elk in the district.

Further cooperation and support from a private landowner revealed that the suspects drove off road on Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and private property and killed the elk on private property without permission.

Both suspects provided full confessions for their crimes. Archie Swift and Jack Lufborough, both from Miles City, recently appeared in Custer County Justice Court. Mr. Swift pled guilty to hunting without a license/permit, unlawful possession of a game animal, and failure to obtain landowner permission for hunting. He received a total fine of $1,375 and $1,000 restitution.

Mr. Lufborough pled guilty to unlawful possession of a game animal and failure to obtain landowner permission for hunting. He received a total fine of $820. Both men also lost their hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for two years. Full confessions likely softened the sentences some.

Anyone with possible information about an incident is encouraged to visit the TIP-MONT page of the Montana FWP website or contact a game warden in your area directly. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.