Michael Letasky Montana Elk Poaching Case, Father Gets 20-Year Hunting Ban, Son Kolton Letasky Loses Hunting Rights for 4 Years After Guilty Pleas

A Billings, Montana man who shot a trophy bull elk with a rifle during archery-only season has pleaded guilty to five wildlife violations. Michael Jason Letasky faces more than $12,000 in fines and restitution and will lose his hunting privileges for 20 years in Montana and in every state that belongs to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. His son, Kolton Letasky of Austin, Texas, pleaded guilty to four violations and faces more than $3,000 in fines and restitution and a four-year loss of hunting privileges.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) announced the pleas on October 30, 2026. According to FWP, both men entered their pleas earlier in October 2026, in Wheatland County District Court (Michael) and Musselshell County Justice Court (Kolton).

The case began with a single report from two bowhunters on September 22, 2025, and grew into a yearlong investigation covering a trophy 6×6 bull elk that scored 321 2/8 on the Boone and Crockett scale, a 2023 raghorn bull elk, an unreported black bear, a 2022 bull elk and a 2024 mule deer buck.

Quick Facts: Michael and Kolton Letasky Montana Poaching Case

Detail	Information reported by Montana FWP
Main defendant	Michael Jason Letasky, Billings, Montana
Second defendant	Kolton Letasky, Austin, Texas (Michael’s son)
Investigating agency	Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens
Lead warden	Diego O’Brien
Location of trophy elk	Little Belt Mountains, central Montana
Investigation began	September 22, 2025
Pleas announced	October 30, 2026 (pleas entered earlier in October 2026)
Michael’s court	Wheatland County District Court
Michael’s charges	2 counts unlawful possession of a game animal; 2 counts hunting during a closed season; 1 count waste of a game animal
Michael’s penalties	More than $12,000 in fines and restitution; 20-year loss of hunting privileges
Kolton’s court	Musselshell County Justice Court
Kolton’s charges	2 counts unlawful possession of a game animal; 2 counts hunting without a license
Kolton’s penalties	More than $3,000 in fines and restitution; 4-year loss of hunting privileges
Trophy elk	6×6 bull, Boone and Crockett score 321 2/8
Trophy restitution	$8,000 for qualifying elk under Montana Code §87-6-907
Report a poacher	1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668), cash reward of up to $1,000 possible
Case numbers	Not published by FWP

What Happened in the Michael Letasky Montana Elk Poaching Case?

On September 22, 2025, two archery hunters in the Little Belt Mountains saw a man shoot a large bull elk with a rifle during archery-only season. They reported it right away and gave descriptions of the suspect. FWP game wardens and Wheatland County Sheriff’s deputies responded and identified Michael Letasky as the suspect during an investigative traffic stop.

The witnesses then led wardens and deputies to the kill site, where officers found the bull shot with a rifle. FWP says the 6×6 bull met Montana’s trophy restitution requirements with a Boone and Crockett score of 321 2/8, and that the elk had been left to waste at the scene, leaving the meat unfit for human consumption.

Warden Diego O’Brien, who led the investigation, said the witnesses “sacrificed their own hunting trip” and that the case would not have been possible without their help.

What Other Violations Did Montana Game Wardens Find in the Letasky Investigation?

Wardens found more violations as the investigation widened.

Michael Letasky’s 2023 Raghorn Bull Elk and Unreported Black Bear

FWP says Michael Letasky also shot a raghorn bull elk in 2023 in the same area, using a firearm during archery-only season. Wardens also found that he possessed an unlawful black bear that he had not reported. FWP did not publish the date of the bear, how it was taken, or which animal matches which of his two possession counts.

Kolton Letasky’s 2022 Bull Elk and 2024 Mule Deer Buck in Musselshell County

FWP says wardens found evidence that Kolton Letasky killed animals in Musselshell County without the required permits:

Year	Animal	Permit FWP says was missing
2022	Bull elk	411-20 elk permit
2024	Mule deer buck	535-50 mule deer permit

What Did Michael Jason Letasky Plead Guilty To in Wheatland County District Court?

Michael Letasky pleaded guilty to five counts:

1. Two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal.
2. Two counts of hunting during a closed season.
3. One count of waste of a game animal.

He faces more than $12,000 in fines and restitution. That figure combines fines and restitution as reported by FWP, so it should not be read as a single $12,000 fine. A news summary of the FWP release says the trophy-elk restitution accounts for $8,000 of the cost, but FWP did not itemize the rest.

Michael Letasky’s 20-Year Loss of Hunting Privileges

Michael will lose hunting privileges for 20 years in Montana and in all other states in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC). The compact lets member states honor each other’s license suspensions, so losing privileges in Montana can block a hunter from buying a license in other member states. FWP’s release describes the compact as covering the vast majority of states. A hunter should confirm with each state’s wildlife agency before applying for a license there.

What Did Kolton Letasky Plead Guilty To in Musselshell County Justice Court?

Kolton Letasky pleaded guilty to four counts:

1. Two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal.
2. Two counts of hunting without a license.

He faces more than $3,000 in fines and restitution and will lose hunting privileges for four years. FWP’s announcement does not say how many states will recognize the four-year suspension. Whether it carries over to Texas or any other state depends on that state’s participation in the compact and its own recognition procedures.

Montana Laws in the Michael and Kolton Letasky Poaching Case

Montana Code §87-6-204: Hunting During a Closed Season (Michael Letasky’s Two Counts)

Under Montana Code §87-6-204, a person may not hunt or attempt to hunt a game animal during a closed season on that species. A conviction carries a fine of $50 to $1,000, up to six months in the county detention center, or both. The court may also order forfeiture of current hunting, fishing or trapping licenses and of those privileges for a period it sets, and repeat offenders can face added penalties under §§87-6-901 and 87-6-902.

FWP described the conduct as shooting elk with a firearm during an archery-only season. The statute’s own text speaks of a “closed season” on a species, so how a rifle shot in archery-only season was charged under this section is a point FWP did not explain.

Montana Code §87-6-202: Unlawful Possession of a Game Animal (Both Defendants)

Montana Code §87-6-202 bars possessing all or part of any game animal that was unlawfully killed or taken. Three features matter in this case:

• “Possess” includes the act of killing. Under §87-6-202(8)(b), possession covers killing, capturing or taking an animal even if the person does not keep it, so leaving an illegally killed elk in the field does not avoid the charge.
• Value is set by the restitution schedules. Under §87-6-202(5), an animal’s value is determined from the restitution schedules in §§87-6-906 and 87-6-907.
• Penalties depend on value. For an elk, deer or antelope valued at $1,000 or less, the fine is $300 to $1,000, up to six months in the county detention center, or both, plus loss of Montana hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 24 months unless the court imposes longer. If the value exceeds $1,000, §87-6-202(6)(f) allows a fine of up to $50,000, up to five years in state prison, or both, and loss of privileges for no less than three years up to life. A black bear valued at $1,000 or less carries a 30-month minimum loss of privileges under §87-6-202(6)(b).

FWP did not say how the possession counts against either defendant were graded, so this article does not say which tier applied.

Montana Code §87-6-205: Waste of a Game Animal (Michael Letasky’s One Count)

Montana Code §87-6-205 prohibits a person responsible for the death of a game animal suitable for food from purposely or knowingly wasting it, including by abandoning the carcass or edible portions in the field or removing only the head, hide or antlers. A conviction carries a fine of $50 to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. The person must also forfeit current licenses and hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Montana for 24 months unless the court imposes a longer period, and must pay restitution under §§87-6-905 through 87-6-907.

Montana Code §87-6-301: Hunting Without a License or Permit (Kolton Letasky’s Two Counts)

Montana Code §87-6-301 governs hunting without the required license or permit. FWP says Kolton killed a bull elk in 2022 and a mule deer buck in 2024 without the required 411-20 elk permit and 535-50 mule deer permit. See the statute for the penalty range.

Montana Code §87-6-907: $8,000 Trophy Elk Restitution

Montana Code §87-6-907 requires a person convicted of purposely or knowingly illegally killing, taking, possessing or wasting a listed trophy animal to reimburse the state under a set schedule. For an elk with at least six points on one antler, as defined by commission regulation, the amount is $8,000. Restitution under §§87-6-906 and 87-6-907 requires a finding that the killing or possession was done knowingly or purposely (§87-6-905). Other listed trophy amounts include $30,000 for qualifying bighorn sheep, $8,000 for a grizzly bear or an antlered deer with at least four points on one antler, $6,000 for qualifying moose or mountain goat, and $2,000 for qualifying antelope.

FWP states that the Letasky bull met the trophy restitution requirements, and a news summary of the release reports the added cost as $8,000. Treat the $8,000 as the statutory figure for a trophy elk, not as a confirmed line item from the court’s order.

Does the 20-Year Montana Hunting Ban Apply in Other States? The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

Yes, it can. Montana participates in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Member states share information about people whose hunting, fishing or trapping privileges are suspended or revoked, and a suspension in one member state can be honored in the others. Montana law also provides for suspension of privileges for failure to comply with a citation or sentence under §87-6-919.

The compact does not mean a ban is automatically in force in every state in the country. It operates through participating states and their recognition procedures. Anyone affected should confirm with the wildlife agency where they plan to hunt. See the Montana FWP Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact page.

How Two Bowhunters Helped Montana Game Wardens Solve the Letasky Poaching Case

According to FWP, the two witnesses stopped their own hunt, reported what they saw, gave descriptions of the suspect, and led wardens and deputies to the kill site. FWP also thanked the Wheatland County Sheriff’s Office, the Billings Police Department Digital Forensic Team, and the Wheatland and Musselshell county attorneys’ offices. FWP did not describe what the digital forensic work involved.

How to Report Poaching in Montana Through TIP-MONT

Anyone with information about crimes against wildlife or state lands can call the local game warden, call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668), or report online at tipmont.mt.gov. People who report information may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. FWP advises including a description of the suspect, vehicle details, the location, the time, and the direction of travel if it is safe to note them.

Michael and Kolton Letasky Poaching Case Timeline

Date	Event
2022	FWP says Kolton Letasky killed a bull elk in Musselshell County without the 411-20 elk permit
2023	FWP says Michael Letasky shot a raghorn bull elk with a firearm during archery-only season in the same area
2024	FWP says Kolton Letasky killed a mule deer buck in Musselshell County without the 535-50 mule deer permit
September 22, 2025	Two archery hunters report a man shooting a large bull elk with a rifle in the Little Belt Mountains
October 2026	Michael and Kolton Letasky plead guilty in Wheatland County District Court and Musselshell County Justice Court
October 30, 2026	Montana FWP announces the pleas and the loss of hunting privileges

FWP did not publish the exact dates of the plea hearings, the sentencing dates, or the court case numbers. Those can be requested from the clerk of the relevant court or searched through Montana Courts public access portals.

Related AllAboutLawyer Guides on Wildlife Law and Endangered Species Litigation

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• Pygmy Rabbit ESA Lawsuit 2026 Feds Missed Deadline By 2 Years
• Is It Legal To Own An Otter? What US Laws Say About Pet Otter Ownership

These cover separate wildlife-law matters and do not involve the Letasky proceedings.

Official Sources for the Michael Letasky Montana Poaching Case

1. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Father and Son Plead Guilty to Multiple Poaching Charges; Face Heavy Fines and Loss of Hunting Privileges, October 30, 2026
2. Montana Code §87-6-202, Unlawful Possession of Game Animals
3. Montana Code §87-6-204, Hunting During a Closed Season
4. Montana Code §87-6-205, Waste of a Game Animal
5. Montana Code §87-6-301, Hunting Without a License or Permit
6. Montana Code §87-6-907, Restitution for Trophy Wildlife
7. Montana FWP, Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
8. Montana Courts Public Access Portals

Disclaimer: This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Financial penalties are totals reported by Montana FWP, not an itemized accounting of court orders. Recognition of hunting suspensions outside Montana depends on each state’s compact procedures. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent legal information website, not a law firm.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announcement of October 30, 2026 and the Montana Code Annotated provisions cited above (87-6-202, 87-6-204, 87-6-205 and 87-6-907), as of November 3, 2026. Last Updated: November 3, 2026.