Montana National Guardsmen Use Chopper To Poach Elk Antlers

 

“Get to tha choppa!” 

If this headline had appeared on April 1st instead of May 4th nobody would have taken it seriously. That’s just how outlandish an act three Montana National Guardsmen pulled off last week outside of Big Timber, Montana. 

The three men in question, landed a Blackhawk helicopter on private land, jumped out and scooped up brown elk sheds worth thousands of dollars. Neighbors called the ranch owners and asked, “Do you know there is an Army helicopter on your land picking up elk antlers?'”

From there the rancher called local authorities and the investigation began. However, things got more bizarre once the men realized they’d been caught.

“A lieutenant colonel said (they’d) meet in person and bring back the antlers,” said (Rancher), citing calls from National Guard leadership and a former local law enforcement official, requesting she not press charges on the helicopter servicemen.

“They used the excuse these are good guys, that I don’t want to ruin their careers,” she said. “They should have thought about that before doing this. I think people need to know this is happening.”

McMullen is right, these men weren’t teenagers, all three are in their 30s and entrusted with a very expensive, tax-payer funded helicopter with absolutely zero right to set the machine down on private property. They should have thought it through. 

When it comes to collecting brown elk sheds, an awful lot of folks, even normally law-abiding, standup citizens, have their discernment shaken by lust and greed. It seems the allure of elk shed antlers clouds the judgement of even our country’s finest. It’s a sad deal and one that I could rant about to no end but I’ll spare you a diatribe and simply ask… what’s your take? 

What punishment should be handed down to these three men who chose to break the law using military equipment instead of performing their sworn duty and bruising the tenuous trust western folks have for the government. 

For what it’s worth, read the below release from Major General J. Peter Hronek, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard. 

“I am aware of an alleged incident involving a Montana Army National Guard helicopter landing on private property without authorization,” reads the statement from Hronek, regarding unauthorized military aircraft use on Wednesday, May 4. “An internal investigation is underway, and appropriate adverse and/or administrative action will take place if the allegations are determined to be true. if true, this behavior does not align with the values of the Montana National Guard. Misuse of military equipment erodes the trust we strive to uphold with the people of Montana. Every member of the Montana National Guard is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, responsibility, and respect for the law.”

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