Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' TIPMONT board approved $48,553 in total fines and $28,100 in reward money for 2025, with 153 total charges resulting in 66 years of lost hunting privileges. The program encourages public reporting of poaching crimes including illegal shed hunting, vandalism, and resource theft.
Juan Garcia-Gomez of Bozeman pleaded guilty to multiple hunting violations after a witness recorded video evidence of him shooting a mule deer buck from a public highway near Jeffers in November. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Madison County Sheriff's Office coordinated the investigation, resulting in $1,100 in fines and a 24-month hunting and fishing privilege suspension.
Hyatt Voy was sentenced to 102 days in the Fergus County Detention Center for poaching a trophy mule deer buck during the 2024 hunting season. The Lewistown realtor also received a seven-year suspension of hunting privileges across Montana and 48 Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact member states, plus $8,000 restitution.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is investigating five bald eagle deaths found in Delta County's Garden Peninsula between April 3-17. The DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local tribes are working together to solve the case, with tipsters eligible for cash rewards through the DNR's Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800.
Jerry "Trey" Truitt III of Tennessee received a lifetime loss of hunting and fishing privileges after pleading no contest to five poaching counts in Ravalli County, Montana. Truitt was convicted of unlawful possession of wildlife, hunting without a license, criminal trespass, and hunting during closed season. Game Wardens Taylor Gagnon, Shane Yaskus, Lou Royce, and Jake Pickens led investigations resulting in multiple convictions across Ravalli and Lake Counties.
The Maine Warden Service and Maine Air National Guard rescued Anna Troxell, a severely hypothermic hiker on Bigelow Mountain's Appalachian Trail, in a multi-agency operation. After ground rescue teams reached Troxell and her hiking partner David Piccioni, an Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter hoisted both from the snow-covered summit at approximately 6:45 a.m. on April 21st.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources graduated 48 park rangers on April 3 from its newly consolidated Ranger Academy at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon. The nine-week program combined commissioned and noncommissioned ranger training for the first time, covering law enforcement, facilities management, and public safety. Chuck Allen, Parks and Recreation Division Strategic Operations Section chief, praised the graduates' preparation for diverse duties serving Michigan's state parks and recreation areas.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are investigating multiple incidents of ducks shot with blow darts at Shiloh Conservation Ponds and Rose Park in Billings. Blow darts are not a lawful means of taking migratory birds in Montana. The public is encouraged to report information to tipmont.mt.gov for potential rewards up to $1,000.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are investigating the killing of a mule deer fawn with a blow dart in Roundup on March 23, 2026. Blow darts are not a lawful means of take for deer in Montana, and the public is encouraged to report information to tipmont.mt.gov for a potential $1,000 reward.
Derek Dermyer, 37, of Washington Township, was sentenced to 30-180 days in jail after being found guilty of fishing without a license and fishing while licenses were revoked. As a habitual offender with previous DNR violations, Dermyer received $2,980 in fines and a seven-year fishing license revocation.
Rebecca Dorr, a missing Brunswick woman last seen in January, was located deceased on March 21st by the Maine Warden Service and Maine Association for Search and Rescue. The Brunswick Police Department, Maine Warden Service, MESARD, and MASAR conducted an extensive search complicated by deep snow. Her death is not considered suspicious.
Indiana Conservation Officers rescued two people from floodwater in Pike County after they attempted to drive through rising water. The Pike County Sheriff's Department deployed a drone to locate the victims along River Road near Dodge City, and conservation officers transported both subjects to safety by boat.
An Indiana Conservation Officer arrested Naithan Murphy, 30, of St. Louis, after a traffic stop near U.S. 41 and Interstate 64 revealed over 300 methamphetamine pills, marijuana, digital scales, and a loaded handgun. Murphy was charged with felony dealing of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and reckless driving.
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks game wardens in Region 4 reported five illegally harvested mountain lions during the 2025 general big game season. Three hunters purchased licenses after shooting the lions and were cited; fines and restitution totaled $3,605. Game Warden Sergeant Trent Farmer emphasized hunters must buy licenses before the season begins.
Indiana Conservation Officers recovered the bodies of Kasee Allman, 21, and Jesse Brock, 35, from the East Fork of the White River in Lawrence County after a multi-day search. The pair was located in their pickup truck in approximately 8 feet of water near Earl Road and Lawrenceport Road.
Indiana Conservation Officers arrested Crystal Sheets, 45, of Birdseye, after investigating illegal paddlefish snagging at Patoka Lake spillway on February 16. Sheets was found in unlawful possession of paddlefish and charged with misdemeanor unlawful possession. Paddlefish, an ancient native Indiana species with diminishing population, is illegal for sport fishing except on the Ohio River with a roe harvester's license.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Enforcement is investigating the poaching of a bull elk shot from a road in Custer National Forest southwest of Broadus on February 21. FWP Region 7 Warden Kyle Queer is leading the investigation. Tipsters may receive up to $1,000.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife concluded Operation Donor Deer, resulting in 35 convictions for 55 violations. Rodney Shields, owner of Rod's Custom Deer Processing, pleaded guilty to felony charges including illegal venison sales and theft by deception, receiving $16,500 in restitution and suspended jail time.
Pennsylvania's 37th Class of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation graduated 24 new State Game Wardens on January 31st. Notable graduates include Katherine Nealen (academics award), Adam Beinhauer (EVOC driving award), Michael Shatalov (marksmanship award), and David Kennedy (fitness award and Life Saving Award for rescuing a hiker on the Appalachian Trail).
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are investigating an unlawfully killed bull elk found on private property off Horsethief Road, approximately 13 miles west of Roundup, between January 30 and February 1. Only the head and backstraps were removed, with all other meat wasted. Game warden Randy Hutzenbiler is seeking public information and offering rewards up to $1,000.