A father and son pleaded guilty to wildlife violations in central Montana after a yearlong investigation by game wardens. Michael Letasky faces over $12,000 in fines and restitution and a 20-year hunting ban. Kolton Letasky faces over $3,000 and a four-year suspension.
A father and son who pleaded guilty to poaching in central Montana have lost their hunting privileges for a combined 24 years. The guilty pleas followed a yearlong investigation by Montana FWP game wardens and were entered in Wheatland and Musselshell county courts in October 2026. Wheatland and Musselshell county attorneys' offices prosecuted the charges.
How the investigation began
The investigation began on Sept. 22, 2025, when two archery hunters in the Little Belt Mountains reported that a man shot a large bull elk with a rifle during archery only season. Wardens and Wheatland County Sheriff's deputies identified Michael Letasky as the suspect during an investigative traffic stop. The witnesses led wardens and deputies to the kill site, where a large 6x6 bull elk shot with a rifle was found. The elk had a Boone and Crockett score of 321 2/8 and met Montana's trophy restitution requirements. It had been left to waste at the scene, rendering the meat unfit for human consumption. Game warden Diego O'Brien led the investigation, with help from the Wheatland County Sheriff's Office and the Billings Police Department Digital Forensic Team.
Michael Letasky's case
Michael Jason Letasky of Billings pleaded guilty in Wheatland County District Court to five charges, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. They were two counts of unlawful possession of game, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of wasting game. Wardens also found that he shot a raghorn bull elk in 2023 in the same area with a firearm during archery only season. He also possessed an unlawful black bear that he had failed to report. He faces more than $12,000 in fines and restitution and will lose hunting privileges for 20 years. The loss of privileges applies in Montana and all other states in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Kolton Letasky's case
Kolton Letasky, of Austin, Texas, and the son of Michael, pleaded guilty in Musselshell County Justice Court to two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal and two counts of hunting without a license. Game wardens found evidence that he killed a mule deer buck in 2024 and a bull elk in 2022 in Musselshell County without the required 535-50 mule deer permit or 411-20 elk permit. He faces more than $3,000 in fines and restitution and will lose hunting privileges for four years.
Reporting wildlife crimes
Tips on wildlife crimes can be reported to the local game warden, at tipmont.mt.gov or at 1-800-TIP-MONT. Those who report information may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 and can remain anonymous.
