4 Tri-Citians lose hunting privileges after illegal Montana elk, deer kills

Four Tri-City residents have been banned from hunting for up to eight years after being sentenced for game violations in an area of Montana known for some of the best elk hunting in the nation.

They and two residents of Roundup, Mont., faced a total of 34 charges related to poaching bull elk and mule deer in the Bull Mountains near Roundup in Musselshell County from 2020 to 2024, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Several large bull elk were killed by hunters without the required elk permit and several large mule deer were killed by hunters without hunting licenses, according to the state wildlife agency.

Search warrants were served in the Tri-Cities to seize eight elk and deer mounts, with three others seized in Montana as evidence in the case.

The combined fines of the six men from Montana and Washington who entered guilty pleas total $22,980, and they have had licenses revoked for a total of 28 years.

Under the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, a ban on hunting and fishing extends from Montana not only to Washington but also most other states.

The investigation started in December 2024 when a resident of Roundup reported that people were coming to town to hunt without licenses and gave a description of suspects and the local residents involved, said Ben Krakowka, Musselshell County attorney.

With information on where animal parts might be, a deer carcass with the head removed was found, Krakowka said.

Some wasted animal quarters also were found, although some of the meat from animals that were shot was used, Krakowka said.

As the investigation continued, multiple confidential sources spoke about what they had seen in recent years in the sparsely populated area, he said.

Musselshell County is home to massive bull elk and just 350 elk permits are issued annually for a multicounty area, with some locals never obtaining a permit, Krakowka said.

“It’s an incredibly desirable tag,” he said.

Pictures of men on Facebook posing with the game they had shot included backgrounds that could be matched to Montana locations.

Warrants to Facebook and a search of cell phone records furthered the investigation.

After Tri-Cities area suspects were identified, Washington state Fish and Wildlife Department officers helped Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens serve multiple warrants to seize eight elk and deer mounts.

Five suspects were questioned about game killed without licenses or tags and in areas where special permits are required to kill a bull elk with branched antlers, and elk and deer mounts were seized.

“We would like to thank the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Billings Police Department and the Musselshell County Attorney’s Office for their assistance,” said Montana game warden Jake Barzen, who was the lead investigator in the case. “But most of all, we thank the public, since like in so many other cases, it was their tips that initially sparked our investigation.”

Tri-Cities, Wash., area residents sentenced include:

Benito “Ben” Valadez is required to pay $8,050 in fines and restitution and had licenses revoked for eight years.

He pleaded guilty to 10 charges for incidents in November 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and October 2021.

They included four counts of hunting or attempting to hunt game without a license; five counts of unlawful possession, shipping or transport of game; and one count of license, permit or tag offenses.

Kyle Steiling is required to pay $3,640 in fines and restitution and had licenses revoked for four years.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession, shipment or transport of game and hunting in November 2020 and November 2021. He also pleaded guilty to attempting to hunt game without a license on the same two dates.

Noe Valadez Jr. is required to pay $2,070 in fines and restitution and had licenses revoked for two years.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of game and hunting or attempting to hunt game without a license, with both offenses in November 2022.

Court documents also show a court case in Musselshell County Justice Court under the same name with guilty pleas to charges of hunting from a public highway and hunting from a motor vehicle in 2018.

John “Johnny” Lopez is required to pay $1,805 in fines and restitution and had licenses revoked for two years.

He pleaded guilty to three charges for violations in November 2020. They were unlawful possession, shipment or transport of game; a license, permit or tag offense; and attempting to hunt or possess a game animal without a license.

Two Roundup residents also were sentenced in the related cases.

Devon Rea is required to pay $4,275 in fines and restitution and had licenses revoked for four years. Mitch Miller is required to pay $3,050 in fines and restitution and had licenses revoked for eight years.

This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM with the headline "4 Tri-Citians lose hunting privileges after illegal Montana elk, deer kills."