(photo courtesy of rcgroups.com)

GLASGOW, Mont. – A Pennsylvania man has been ordered to pay a total of $5,180 in fines and restitution for misdemeanor big-game hunting violations in four Montana counties.

John Feucht, 29, of Camp Hill, Penn., pleaded guilty in Missoula County Justice Court in Missoula, Mont., to purchasing a resident license for non-resident use during the 2010 big game hunting season. He was fined $1,035 for that violation.

• In Park County Justice Court in Livingston, Mont., Feucht was ordered to pay $3,340 in fines and restitution for killing and possessing a bull elk in 2010, a bull elk in 2011, a white-tailed deer buck in 2010, and a white-tailed deer buck in 2011 without valid licenses. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Warden Todd Anderson of Glasgow said Feucht also used resident licenses as a non-resident while hunting these animals.

• In Gallatin County Justice Court in Bozeman, Mont., Feucht also pleaded guilty to purchasing a resident big-game license for non-resident use. He was fined $135 for that violation.

• In Lewis and Clark County Justice Court in Helena, Mont., Feucht pleaded guilty and paid fines totaling $670 for purchasing a resident elk license and elk permit for non- resident use.

In addition, Feucht lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 24 months in Montana and the 38 other states participating in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

FWP wardens traveled to Pennsylvania last year to further investigate Feucht’s illegal activities. There they were helped by Pennsylvania Game Commission officers. Two bull elk and a whitetail buck were seized in the process.

“We’d like to thank the Pennsylvania Game Commission and their officers for their assistance,” Anderson said. “Without their help this case would not have been nearly as successful.”

(Ron Seldon, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks – Region 6)