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A sprawling Montana poaching investigation has ended with more than 100 seized or surrendered mounts, nearly $37,000 in fines and enough lost hunting privileges to cover several lifetimes.
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 13 suspects were charged with committing more than 80 wildlife violations in McCone County over roughly a decade.
The final tally included 89 citations, $36,785 in fines and a combined 44 years of lost hunting privileges. Three nonresident hunters received lifetime bans from hunting in Montana.
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Investigation Began on Vida-Area Farm
Game wardens began actively investigating Vida-area landowner Kelly Nelson in 2024, along with hunters who regularly visited his property.
The investigation eventually included Montana residents and hunters from Washington, North Dakota, Wyoming and Indiana. FWP said the illegal hunting occurred on Nelson’s farm and neighboring properties.
The violations involved deer, antelope and upland game birds. As the case expanded, wardens seized or received the surrender of more than 100 deer and antelope mounts, antlers and horns.
That distinction is worth noting: authorities did not seize more than 100 live animals. They recovered trophies and remains associated with animals investigators determined had been taken illegally.
Decades of Lost Hunting Privileges
Under a plea agreement, Nelson was fined and lost his Montana hunting privileges for eight years.
Three nonresident hunters received lifetime Montana hunting bans, while the remaining penalties added up to 44 years without hunting privileges. One additional hunter’s case remained pending with the McCone County Attorney’s Office when FWP announced the results.
FWP said all but two of the suspects pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility and cooperated with investigators.
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“These hunters displayed zero regard for ethical hunter behavior or the lawful pursuit of these animals,” McCone County game warden John Huberty said.
Huberty also described McCone County as a special place with world-class wildlife. That quality is exactly what makes a case of this size sting.
Poaching Is Not Hunting
Ethical hunters follow seasons, obtain permission, buy licenses and respect bag limits because those rules protect wildlife and preserve future opportunities.
Poachers do the opposite. They steal animals from the public, undermine landowner relationships and give legitimate hunters a black eye.
This case also shows how much work can go into unraveling years of wildlife violations. Wardens began investigating in 2024, but the conduct they uncovered reportedly stretched back about a decade and crossed multiple state lines.
Montana FWP is asking anyone with information about wildlife crimes to submit a report through TIP-MONT, call 1-800-TIP-MONT at 1-800-847-6668 or contact a local game warden. Tips may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Do nearly $37,000 in fines, 44 years of suspended privileges and three lifetime bans fit the scale of this case?
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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