Investigation began with report of trophy bull elk shot with a firearm during archery only season
BILLINGS – As a result of a yearlong investigation by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens, a father and son pled guilty to multiple wildlife violations in Wheatland and Musselshell county courts earlier this month. Both men face thousands of dollars in fines and restitution and will lose hunting privileges for multiple years.
Michael Jason Letasky of Billings pled guilty in Wheatland County District Court to two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of a waste of a game animal. He faces over $12,000 in fines and restitution and will lose hunting privileges for 20 years in Montana and all other states in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Michael’s son Kolton Letasky, of Austin, Texas, pled guilty in Musselshell County Justice Court to two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal and two counts of hunting without a license. Kolton faces over $3,000 in fines and restitution and will lose hunting privileges for four years.
This 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. Thankfully, both witnesses were able to provide descriptions of the suspect. FWP game wardens and Wheatland County Sheriff’s deputies responded and identified Michael Letasky as the suspect during an investigative traffic stop.
The witnesses led wardens and Wheatland County deputies to the kill site, where they located a large bull elk shot with a rifle. The 6×6 bull elk met Montana’s trophy restitution requirements with a Boone and Crockett score of 321 2/8. The trophy bull elk had been left to waste at the scene, rendering the meat unfit for human consumption.
“The hunters that witnessed this trophy bull elk unlawfully shot during archery season were rightfully upset and immediately reported the crime to authorities,” said game warden Diego O’Brien, who led the investigation. “Their quick and accurate reporting and assistance in locating evidence were crucial to this investigation.”
During their extensive investigation, game wardens discovered that Micheal Letasky also shot a raghorn bull elk in 2023 in the same area with a firearm during archery only season. They also discovered that Letasky was in possession of an unlawful black bear that he had failed to report. Additionally, game wardens discovered evidence that Kolton Letasky had killed a mule deer buck in 2024 and bull elk in 2022 in Musselshell County without the required 535-50 mule deer permit or 411-20 elk permit.
“We appreciate the assistance from Wheatland County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department Digital Forensic Team in this investigation, and thank Wheatland and Musselshell county attorneys’ offices for their prosecution of the charges,” said warden O’Brien.
“Most of all, we appreciate the reporting by the hunters who witnessed the crime. They sacrificed their own hunting trip to ensure justice was served, and this case wouldn’t have been possible without their help,” said O’Brien.
FWP game wardens often rely on reports and good witnesses from the field in many investigations. Anyone with possible information about crimes against wildlife or state lands is asked to call the local game warden, 1-800-TIP-MONT, or visit tipmont.mt.gov to provide details. Those who report information may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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