MILES CITY – A North Dakota couple pled guilty to charges related to the illegal harvest of a trophy mule deer buck in southeast Montana.
On Sept. 5, 2022, game wardens received a report of a potential bait site north of Plevna. Game Wardens Kristy Cullinan and Kyle Queer investigated the report and located the bait site along with a cellular trail camera and a tree stand. Investigation showed that the camera belonged to Justin Wiseman of Sentinel Butte, ND, and was being used in conjunction with the baited area to unlawfully attract game animals and track their movements for the purposes of hunting.
While continuing the investigation into Wiseman, Warden Cullinan discovered social media posts of Wiseman’s wife, Robin, posing with a large mule deer buck taken in November 2022. Further investigation showed that the buck was harvested by Robin without a license and was tagged by Justin. In interviews conducted by Warden Cullinan and Investigator Steve Marx, both Justin and Robin Wiseman provided full confessions.
On April 21, 2025, in Montana’s Seventh Judicial District Court, the couple pled guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Game Animal and were each sentenced to a $300 fine, six months in county jail (all suspended), and will be jointly and severally liable to pay $8,000 restitution for the trophy mule deer buck. Both also lost their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for two years.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks thanks the Montana Attorney General’s office for their prosecution of this matter.
Anyone with possible information about an incident is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov or contact a game warden in your area directly. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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