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Billings resident Michael Letasky pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife offenses and was barred from hunting for 20 years, according to Outdoor Life. The investigation began after two bowhunters reported seeing a rifle used to kill a trophy bull elk during archery season in September 2025. His son, Kolton Letasky, also pleaded guilty to offenses and received a four-year hunting ban.
Michael Letasky, a Billings resident, has been barred from hunting for 20 years and ordered to pay more than $12,000 in fines after pleading guilty to multiple wildlife offenses, Outdoor Life reported Nov. 2. The investigation began when two bowhunters reported seeing a man shoot a trophy bull elk with a rifle during Montana’s archery season in September 2025.
According to Outdoor Life’s account of the case, the witnesses reported the shooting in the Little Belt Mountains and helped authorities locate the dead elk. The animal was a 6×6 bull that met Montana’s trophy standards. By the time wardens reached it, the meat could not be salvaged, and the elk had been left to waste.
Wardens located Letasky after a traffic stop, based in part on details supplied by the bowhunters. He matched the description of the person they had seen, but officers did not find the rack or meat, the report said. Investigators also documented other offenses: Letasky shot a raghorn elk with a firearm during the 2023 archery season and had an unreported black bear.
Letasky pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of wasting game. His penalties include more than $12,000 in fines and a 20-year loss of hunting privileges. The report also says his son, Kolton Letasky, pleaded guilty to two counts each of unlawful possession of game and hunting without a license, receiving more than $3,000 in fines and a four-year hunting ban.
A Tip Led to Years of Penalties
The case shows how reports from hunters in the field can help wildlife officers investigate violations that might otherwise go undetected. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden and lead investigator Diego O’Brien told Outdoor Life that the two witnesses supplied information and helped locate evidence, even though doing so took time away from their own hunting trip.
The penalties also reflect the consequences attached to illegal take and waste of wildlife. Outdoor Life reported that Montana law sets $8,000 in restitution for the illegal killing and possession or waste of a trophy elk. That restitution figure is distinct from the more than $12,000 in fines reported for Letasky’s guilty pleas; the article does not provide a full breakdown of his financial obligations.
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How the Investigation Began
The inquiry started after two bowhunters said they saw a man use a rifle to kill an elk during archery season in September 2025. They gave authorities a description and information about where the animal had fallen. Wardens later found the elk, but the delay meant its meat could not be recovered for use, according to the report.
The investigation widened beyond that incident. Wardens found evidence linking Michael Letasky to earlier wildlife offenses and evidence against his son involving Montana game taken without the required permits or licenses. The father and son’s cases resulted in a combined 24-year hunting ban, according to Outdoor Life: 20 years for Michael and four for Kolton.
“Their quick and accurate reporting and assistance in locating evidence were crucial to this investigation.”
— Diego O’Brien, in a statement quoted by Outdoor Life
Financial and Case Details Not Listed
Outdoor Life reports the guilty pleas, hunting bans and fine totals, but the source material does not provide a complete breakdown of the more than $12,000 owed by Michael Letasky, including how much reflects fines, restitution or other costs. It also does not give the court, sentencing dates or case numbers.
The report describes the evidence and penalties but does not include statements from Letasky or his son, or details of any response from their attorneys. Those perspectives are not available in the material provided. No additional court action or appeal is identified.
Hunting Bans and Payments Ahead
Michael Letasky is subject to a 20-year hunting prohibition, while his son’s ban lasts four years, according to the report. The men are also responsible for the reported fines. The source does not say when the bans began, whether payment schedules were set, or whether either man intends to appeal.
Montana wildlife authorities’ investigation and reported prosecutions are described as concluded through guilty pleas and penalties. Any further developments, including changes to the financial obligations or court outcomes, would need confirmation from court records or state officials.
Key Questions
Why was Michael Letasky banned from hunting?
He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game, two counts of hunting during a closed season and one count of wasting game, according to Outdoor Life.
How did the investigation start?
Two bowhunters reported seeing a man shoot a bull elk with a rifle during archery season in September 2025. Their information helped wardens investigate and locate the elk.
What happened to the bull elk?
The elk was a 6×6 trophy bull, and the report says it was left to waste. By the time wardens reached it, its meat could not be salvaged.
What penalties did Kolton Letasky receive?
Kolton Letasky pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of game and two counts of hunting without a license. Outdoor Life reported more than $3,000 in fines and a four-year hunting ban.
Source: outdoorlife.com
