{"id":110859,"date":"2019-06-03T16:09:14","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T20:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=110859"},"modified":"2024-08-03T20:54:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T01:54:57","slug":"hunt365-montana-guide-slapped-w-lifetime-hunting-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-montana-guide-slapped-w-lifetime-hunting-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"It Doesn’t Pay to Poach: Montana Guide Slapped w\/ Lifetime Hunting Ban"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"It
A bull elk at one of Schuhen’s kill sites.\u00a0(Photo: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A former Montana hunting guide found out firsthand that it doesn\u2019t pay to poach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon Kyle Schuhen last month pled guilty to five counts of \u201cunlawful possession, shipping or transportation of a trophy big game animal,\u201d reports The Billings Gazette<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of his punishment, the 23-year-old must complete 500 hours of community service at a wildlife conservation organization, pay $33,050 in fines to the state, serve 10 years of probation \u2014 and he will never be allowed to hunt, fish or trap again.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That lifetime hunting ban applies not only in the Treasure State but every state in The Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During sentencing, Yellowstone County District Court Judge Don Harris blasted the young man for his \u201cegregious\u201d behavior.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want you to know that in the state of Montana, these game animals are precious,\u201d said Judge Harris. \u201cAnd one of the very disturbing things to me in this case is that you shot these animals and mostly wasted them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge Harris was referencing, among other animals, the bull elk that Schuhen desecrated. After slaying the bull elk, Schuhen hacked off its head and left the rest of the body to rot. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigators believe that Schuhen illegally harvested all of the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n