MT wildlife chief gets roadkill warning for deer

[December 02, 2011]  HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- The head of the commission responsible for setting Montana's hunting regulations has found himself at the receiving end of one of the warnings his agency issues for illegally salvaging roadkill.

The Independent Record (http://bit.ly/rVR7E8) reported Tuesday that Bob Ream of the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission got the warning after he tagged a deer struck by his car on Nov. 12.

The commission chairman says most of the carcass was salvageable, so he took it for processing. He says he didn't realize that was illegal until he mentioned it to a game warden.

Wildlife officials say statutes limit hunting to firearms and archery during times and do not specify scenarios in which game might be taken illegally. Ream says he may seek to clarify the regulations.

The warning required him to donate the meat to a food bank.

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Information from: Independent Record, http://www.helenair.com/

[Associated Press]

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