Man Pleads Guilty to Over-Limit Duck Poaching
A Simms man lost hunting, trapping and fishing privileges for eight years after admitting to poaching ducks on the Sun River.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Hunting
A Simms man pleaded guilty to poaching ducks over the limit on the Sun River and was sentenced in Lewis and Clark County District Court. He received a suspended one-year jail sentence and was ordered to pay about $4,500 in fines and restitution.
Why it matters
The case shows how Montana wildlife officers and courts treat excessive waterfowl harvest, with penalties reaching beyond fines to the loss of hunting privileges. Officials stated the ruling sends a warning to hunters statewide about respecting daily and possession limits.
Investigators found 223 ducks at the shop, far above the 21-duck possession limit, and the man was charged with a felony before the charge was reduced to two misdemeanors. The co-defendant's case is still pending, and a change of plea hearing is set for Nov. 19.
The players
Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP)
Montana's state agency responsible for managing fish, wildlife, parks and recreation, including enforcement of hunting regulations through its game wardens.
Lewis and Clark County District Court
The Montana trial court in Helena that handles felony cases and sentencing for Lewis and Clark County.
The details
Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Per Wolfisberg checked two waterfowl hunters on private land along the Sun River on Jan. 14 and counted 66 dead ducks. Investigators later searched the man's shop in Simms and found many butchered and freshly killed birds, and he admitted to killing 120 ducks over Jan. 13 and 14.
Timeline
Jan. 13 to 14: Hunting on the Sun River took place, with 120 ducks killed.
Jan. 14: A game warden checked two hunters and counted 66 dead ducks.
March 25: Charges were filed in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court.
Nov. 19: A change of plea hearing is scheduled for the co-defendant.
Lifestyle Lens
The case applies Montana's FWP waterfowl daily bag limit of seven ducks and possession limit of 21 ducks, both of which were exceeded many times over. It illustrates how state wildlife law enforcement treats over-limit harvest as a serious offense rather than a minor infraction.
Hunters in Montana should track daily bag and possession limits carefully, since exceeding them can bring felony charges and multi-year loss of hunting privileges. Anyone unsure of the current waterfowl limits should check FWP regulations before heading into the field.
The takeaway
Staying within bag and possession limits protects both wildlife populations and your hunting privileges. Keeping a running count of birds in the field and at home helps prevent accidental violations.
Further reading
For more on the rules hunters follow, see Hunting coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent Record.
