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Two men plead guilty to poaching deer, elk in northern Montana – Daily Montanan [1]

['Blair Miller', 'More From Author', '- January']

Date: 2024-02 

Two men pleaded guilty this month to illegally killing nine deer and four elk, along with other hunting violations, in Blaine and Hill counties over a two-year period, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced on Friday.

Michael Dess, of Havre, and Lane Allen, of Harlem, each agreed to plea deals in both counties that will cost them thousands of dollars in fines and their hunting and fishing licenses in Montana and other states for at least a decade.

According to FWP, the two men were initially charged with closed season hunting violations, hunting without a license, waste of game, going over bag limits, using artificial light, and unlawful possession of game animals.

The two allegedly killed nine antlered deer and four bull elk – some of which were trophy animals that qualify for trophy restitution, which is typically $8,00 for certain elk and deer – in the two counties in 2021 and 2022.

Dess originally faced 35 total misdemeanors and three felonies total, while Allen was charged with 19 misdemeanors and two felonies between the two counties.

This month, according to FWP, each agreed to plea deals on four separate charges related to illegally killing elk and deer from roadways after dark and with the use of artificial light.

As part of the agreements, Dess will have to pay $16,010 in fines and restitution, and Allen will have to pay a total of $8,210. Both also lose their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 10 years in Montana and most other U.S. states.

“Region 6 game wardens would like to thank hunters and landowners for their assistance in helping solve this case,” FWP Region 6 spokesperson Marc Kloker said in a statement. “A special thank you goes to Blaine County Attorney Kelsie Harwood for prosecuting both cases.”

FWP said the original tip about the alleged illegal hunting came from a person who called FWP’s tip line, 1-800-TIP-MONT.

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