Montana Guardsmen Accused Of Helicopter Shed Hunt

Shed hunting in Montana is a big deal. Every spring, folks gear up and hit the hills in search of "brown gold," those freshly dropped elk and deer antlers. It's not just a pastime; for some, it's a full-blown obsession. And with that kind of excitement, things can get a little… competitive and bad decisions can be made.

The growing popularity of shed hunting has led to more rules, and unfortunately, more bad decisions. In Montana, you can't just go wander wherever you please—private land is off limits without permission. Certain Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) even require you to register your vehicle, and they have set opening days for shed hunting.

Despite all the rules posted, every year someone decides to push the boundaries. This time? It might be three Montana National Guardsmen now facing charges after allegedly scooping up elk sheds from a helicopter on private land. Yep… you read that right.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, is charging the men with "Criminal Trespass to Property" in Sweet Grass County Justice Court. The charges were filed this past Tuesday (5/15), and the men who hail from Helena, Great Falls, and Clancy are accused of "entering posted private property for the purpose of elk antler retrieval," according to the official citations.

Now look, I know trespassing isn't a laughing matter, but there's something almost cinematic about the whole ordeal. The three reportedly used a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to land in the Crazy Mountain foothills. I mean… if you're gonna break the rules, might as well do it with military-grade flair, right?

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If convicted, they're looking at a fine of up to $500 and possibly up to six months in county jail. No word yet on how it's all gonna shake out in court, but one thing's for sure—they'll have one wild story either way.