MBA Initiated Legislation Puts The Bite On Bighorn Poacher

According to a March 2 Fish, Wildlife and Parks news release, a Toston man was sentenced for felony possession of an unlawfully taken bighorn sheep. District Court Judge Dorothy McCarter placed 39 year-old David Arnold Leifert on felony probation for five years and ordered him to pay $30,000 in restitution to the state. Additionally, Leifert will forfeit his Montana hunting and fishing privileges for three years.

The law under which this case was tried was passed by the 1999 Montana Legislature to address the unlawful and willful taking of trophy class big game animals. The restitution amount was set in statute. In this case, the sheep's horns exceeded 3/4 curl, qualifying the offense for $30,000 restitution.

The law went into effect as a result of House Bill 458 which the Montana Bowhunters Association formulated and introduced into the legislative process. Board member Greg Munther spearheaded the MBA's efforts and the bill's sponsor was Senator Fred Thomas of Stevensville. The bill revising restitution penalties for trophy sized big game taken illegally was the first ever attempt by the MBA to get a bill passed by the Legislature and that first attempt was a success.