A father and son who pleaded guilty to poaching in central Montana have lost their hunting privileges for a combined 24 years. Their poaching activity goes back years, but the investigation into the men started last year based on a tip from two bowhunters, who reported a man shooting a bull elk with a rifle during archery season in September 2025.
“Lawful hunters are some of the most passionate outdoorsmen and women in existence. They’re very quick to report wildlife crimes and violations they see in the field,” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden and lead investigator Diego O’Brien tells Outdoor Life. “These two individuals, in my opinion, went above and beyond reporting the violation. They were very proactive with assistance in an area that I didn’t know very well. They proved to be incredible resources for me.”
Based on information provided by the two bowhunters, law enforcement located Billings resident Michael Letasky through a traffic stop. He matched the description of the man shooting the bull in the Little Belt Mountains, but he didn’t have the rack or any game meat. The bull was left to waste. (The two witnesses knew exactly where the dead animal was, but by then it was too late for wardens to salvage the meat.)
“The hunters that witnessed this trophy bull elk unlawfully shot during archery season were rightfully upset and immediately reported the crime to authorities,” O’Brien said in a statement. “Their quick and accurate reporting and assistance in locating evidence were crucial to this investigation. They sacrificed their own hunting trip to ensure justice was served.”
The poached 6×6 bull met the state’s trophy standards. By state code, restitution for the illegal killing and possession or waste of trophy elk is $8,000. The only animal with a higher restitution than a 6×6 bull is a bighorn ram with at least three-fourths curl, which earns a penalty of $30,000.
In addition to the poached bull, Letasky also shot a raghorn with a firearm during the 2023 archery season, and he had an unreported black bear. During the investigation, wardens also found evidence against Letasky’s son, Kolton, of Austin, Texas.
Kolton Letasky killed a Montana buck in 2024 and a Montana bull in 2022 without the proper permits. He pled 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 no hunting for four years.
The elder Letasky’s penalties are more severe. Michael Letasky plead guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of wasting game. He owes more than $12,000 in fines and can’t hunt for 20 years.