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Michael Letasky pleaded guilty to multiple Montana wildlife offenses and was ordered to pay more than $12,000 in fines and give up hunting for 20 years. His son, Kolton Letasky, also pleaded guilty to hunting and game-possession offenses and received a four-year hunting ban. The case began after two bowhunters reported seeing a rifle-shot bull elk in September 2025.
Michael Letasky of Billings has been barred from hunting for 20 years and ordered to pay more than $12,000 in fines after pleading guilty to Montana wildlife offenses, according to an Outdoor Life report. The investigation began when two bowhunters reported seeing a man shoot a trophy bull elk with a rifle during archery season in September 2025; Letasky’s son, Kolton, also pleaded guilty to separate offenses and received a four-year hunting ban.
The witnesses reported the shooting in the Little Belt Mountains and shared information with authorities. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wardens later located Michael Letasky through a traffic stop. He matched the witnesses’ description, the report said, but did not have the elk’s antlers or meat. The bull was left to waste, and wardens were unable to recover its meat by the time they reached the animal.
The bull was a 6×6 elk that met Montana’s trophy standards. The state’s restitution amount for illegally killing and possessing or wasting a trophy elk is $8,000, according to the report. Michael Letasky pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of wasting game. His penalties include more than $12,000 in fines and a 20-year loss of hunting privileges.
Investigators also found evidence involving his son, Kolton Letasky of Austin, Texas. The report says Kolton killed a Montana buck in 2024 and a bull in 2022 without the required permits. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game and two counts of hunting without a license. His penalties include more than $3,000 in fines and a four-year hunting ban.
Witness Reports Led to Wildlife Penalties
The case shows how reports from people hunting legally can help wardens investigate wildlife violations. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden and lead investigator Diego O’Brien said the two bowhunters supplied information and helped locate evidence in an area unfamiliar to him. Their report also prompted an investigation that extended beyond the initial elk shooting to other alleged offenses involving both men.
The penalties affect more than a single hunting season: Michael Letasky’s 20-year ban and his son’s four-year ban restrict their ability to hunt for extended periods. The fines also reflect the state’s financial penalties for offenses involving game animals, including the reported $8,000 restitution amount for a trophy elk.
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How the Investigation Expanded
The investigation started in September 2025, when two bowhunters reported a man firing a rifle at a bull elk during archery season. Their description and assistance helped wardens identify Michael Letasky, according to the Outdoor Life account. The bull’s meat could not be salvaged because authorities reached it too late.
Wardens later developed evidence of other wildlife offenses. The report says Michael Letasky had also shot a raghorn elk with a firearm during the 2023 archery season and had an unreported black bear. Investigators found evidence tied to Kolton Letasky’s unpermitted kills in 2022 and 2024. The source describes guilty pleas and penalties for both men but does not give the dates or courts for those proceedings.
““Their quick and accurate reporting and assistance in locating evidence were crucial to this investigation.””
— Diego O’Brien, in a statement quoted by Outdoor Life
Details Not Given in the Report
The source does not identify the court, the dates of the guilty pleas or the precise schedule for paying the fines. It also does not provide case numbers or details of any additional restrictions beyond the stated hunting bans and financial penalties. The account says wardens found evidence involving an unreported black bear and other elk, but it does not specify the final legal disposition of every item mentioned.
The initial report identified Michael Letasky through a traffic stop and said he matched the witnesses’ description, but he did not have the trophy rack or meat. The source does not describe further physical evidence linking him to that specific bull beyond the investigation and the guilty pleas to the listed offenses.
Hunting Bans and Fines Ahead
The penalties reported are the current outcome: Michael Letasky is barred from hunting for 20 years, while Kolton Letasky’s ban lasts four years. Both men also face the stated fines. The report does not identify a further court date, appeal or other upcoming milestone, so it is unclear whether any additional proceedings are expected.
Key Questions
Why was Michael Letasky banned from hunting for 20 years?
He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of wasting game. The reported penalties include more than $12,000 in fines and a 20-year hunting ban.
What did the bowhunters report?
In September 2025, two bowhunters reported seeing a man shoot a bull elk with a rifle during archery season in the Little Belt Mountains. Their information helped wardens investigate and identify Letasky, according to the report.
What happened to the elk?
The bull was a 6×6 trophy elk. It was left to waste, and wardens were unable to salvage its meat because they reached the animal too late, the report says.
What penalties did Kolton Letasky receive?
Kolton Letasky pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game and two counts of hunting without a license. His reported penalties include more than $3,000 in fines and a four-year hunting ban.
Source: outdoorlife.com
