NEAR BELGRADE — Wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks are asking for help from the public to find whoever is responsible for killing more than 30 birds, and then dumping them near the Gallatin River.
It happened at the fishing access site along Cameron Bridge Road south of Belgrade. The area is now under surveillance after 20 geese and 11 mallard ducks were found shot and dumped here, with large portions of meat gone - not harvested - and wasted.
Wardens say they are unsure if one or more people were involved in this but do say this is well over the federally legal limit for a single hunter.
Morgan Jacobsen of FWP said, "You know, it is a waste. Hunting is a sport that can provide valuable meat for your family and when that goes to waste it is really unfortunate."
He added, "When carcasses are dumped there or when there is littering, it detracts from the experience for everybody and it shows disrespect for public land."
FWP wardens are still investigating a similar crime in the area - two red-tailed hawks found shot and killed north of Bozeman. They were found in mid-October. Hawks are federally protected and can not be hunted.
If you can help wardens with either of these cases -- you can get in touch with them immediately by calling 1-800-TIP-MONT.
The FWP website provides the following information about poaching:
Poaching is the illegal killing of fish or wildlife. It can include illegal killing of fish or wildlife:
- for commercial trade
- for ego gratification
- in closed areas, during closed times, or taking more than the law allows
Poachers:
- reduce recreational opportunities for law abiding anglers, hunters, wildlife watchers, and other outdoor enthusiasts
- kill and waste Montana game animals, threatened and endangered species, and even nongame animals
- target Montana’s fish and wildlife resource for personal profit
- Poaching robs law abiding hunters of game and fish, businesses and taxpayers of revenues generated by hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing recreation, and it denies many other Montanans the ability to enjoy seeing healthy, mature fish and wildlife populations.
