Montana -(Ammoland.com)- Christopher N. Brittain (33) of Utah was charged and has pleaded guilty to three counts of hunting without a license, three counts of unlawful possession and transportation of a game animal, two counts of failure to obtain landowner permission to hunt, two counts of waste of a game animal, and one count of hunting or killing over the limit.
In November of 2014, a caller reported three deer carcasses behind a storage building in Glasgow. An investigation ensued by Glasgow-area game warden Todd Tryan and area wildlife biologist Drew Henry.
The investigation determined that Brittain had killed a mule deer doe and 3×3 mule deer buck on a Block Management area in Sheridan County. Later, he killed a 4×4 mule deer buck on a Block Management area in McCone County. The carcasses of all three deer were then discarded, and some of the meat was allowed to go to waste, in Valley County.
The carcasses of all three deer were found behind the storage building. The heads and antlers of both bucks had been removed, and were later found in the back seat of Brittain’s work pickup during the investigation. Both sets of antlers were retrieved. Only one of the deer carcasses had all meat “suitable for food” removed, while the other two were left to waste. The remaining meat was retrieved and donated.
“Two of Montana’s bucks and a doe were taken from the sportsmen of Montana,” said Tryan. “Brittain did not possess a Montana hunting license, he failed to gain landowner permission to hunt on the Block Management areas, and he ultimately let some of the meat go to waste.”
Brittain was charged and paid fines in all three counties for the violations; Sheridan, McCone, and Valley. He was ordered to pay a total of $8,360 in fines, $1,300 in restitution, and has lost his privileges to hunt, fish, and trap in Montana for a total of eight years. He also lost his privileges to hunt, fish, and trap for a total of eight years in all 44 states that are members of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.