More Good Sentencing News On Montana’s Trophy Deer Poaching Scene

Thanks to another helpful from a concerned citizen, a Montana hunter got hit with a big fine and lost privileges. Let's dig deeper.

AN OUT OF SEASON LIE

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that a Pondera County man has been sentenced to fines and license revocation for poaching a trophy white-tailed buck in 2025.

Tony Zimbelman initially claimed to have shot the deer with archery equipment during archery season. Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, Montana game wardens contacted Mr. Zimbelman, who eventually admitting to shooting the deer with a rifle on the day before the archery season opened in September of 2025. The deer was a large buck with a Boone & Crockett score of 182, an exceptionally large, world-class whitetail deer..

RECENT PLEA AGREEMENT

On March 23, 2026, Zimbelman reached a plea agreement in Montana Ninth Judicial Court for Misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Wildlife, and was sentenced to 6 months in jail, suspended, along with fines and restitution totaling $3,000. And his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges were also revoked for two years.

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A CONCERNED TIPSTER WAS THE SPRINGBOARD

Montana FWP game warden Sergeant Mike Krings was quoted in the press release as saying,  "This case came about because of an initial tip from a concerned sportsman, and the assistance and support from people like that are incredibly valuable to us.  Krings who led the investigation. Private citizens act as extra eyes and ears in the field for game wardens and help us preserve fair chase opportunities for the vast majority of Montana hunters who do things the right way.”

Anyone who observes a hunting violation or has information about a potential crime can go to the Montana FWP TIPMONT webpage and click on the area where the incident happened. The site provides contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, for wardens around the state.

You can remain anonymous and you may be eligible for a reward.