Man sentenced for possessing sheep horns
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News from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
LAKE COUNTY — Lake County resident Michael Filipek, 55, Dayton, recently accepted a plea bargain and pled guilty to Fish, Wildlife and Park violations in Lake County Justice Court stemming from the unlawful possession of bighorn sheep horns from Wild Horse Island State Park. In addition, Filepek was cited for an unlawfully killed bobcat and mountain lion that were not killed on Wild Horse Island.
On March 13, 2015 Sergeant Nathan Reiner and Polson Game Warden Ron Howell were on Wild Horse Island investigating the reported death of a large bighorn ram when they ran into Filipek. The wardens interviewed Filipek on the island and were able to determine that Filipek had picked up two bighorn ram heads and moved them out of plain view on the island. Filipek was not cited at that time for any violations.
Wardens continued their investigation and later, with the help of Regional Investigator Brian Sommers, a search warrant for Filipek’s residence was obtained and a set of bighorn sheep horns that Filipek had previously taken from Wild Horse Island were seized. The investigation also showed that Filipek had illegally shot a bobcat in 2014 and illegally shot a mountain lion in 2013.
Filipek pled guilty to the unlawful possession of bighorn sheep horns, unlawful possession of a mountain lion, unlawful possession of a bobcat, and hunting without a license. Filipek was sentenced in Lake County Justice Court Feb. 8 and ordered to pay $1,200 in fines and restitution, lost his privileges to hunt, fish and trap for three years. Filipek was also banned from Wild Horse Island for three years.
Warden Captain Lee Anderson noted that it is illegal to pick up bighorn sheep horns anywhere in the state. There is a huge commercial value for bighorn sheep horns, especially ones of world-class caliber like the Wild Horse Island sheep. Anderson added that these sheep were likely killed by a mountain lion and not shot.
“This is a very important case for the state parks division,” said Regional Park Manager Dave Landstrom. “It is illegal to remove natural or cultural artifacts from any of Montana’s state parks. The intent of this law is that anyone who visits a state park should have an opportunity to enjoy these artifacts, and then leave them where they lay so that then next visitor can do the same.”
