Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens report that Jerry "Trey" Truitt III of Tennessee was recently sentenced for wildlife poaching crimes committed in Ravalli County, resulting in a lifetime loss of hunting and fishing privileges. Truitt also had a prior history of poaching convictions in Ravalli and Lake Counties.
The most recent case concluded April 2 in Ravalli County Justice Court where Truitt pleaded no contest on five criminal counts related to poaching crimes he committed in 2024 and 2025. Truitt was convicted on two counts of unlawful possession of wildlife (turkey and sandhill crane), one count of hunting without a license, one count of criminal trespass, and one count for hunting during a closed season. Truitt hunted for turkeys without a license and killed a sandhill crane in Ravalli County, where there is not a season for cranes.
The original Montana case against Truitt related to poaching crimes he committed in 2024 in Ravalli County. He was originally convicted in Ravalli County Justice Court in April 2025 on two counts of hunting without a license and two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal. He killed an antlerless elk and antlerless white-tailed deer in West Fork of the Bitterroot without a license.
In 2025 Truitt also pleaded guilty in Lake County Justice Court for obstruction of justice, using a license issued to another person, and violation of Commission rules and regulations related to unlawfully hunting waterfowl on Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area in 2024.
Ravalli County Game Wardens Taylor Gagnon and Shane Yaskus, and Warden Sergeant Lou Royce, led the Ravalli County investigations, and Warden Jake Pickens led the Lake County case. The earlier cases resulted in fines and restitution owed and some loss of hunting and fishing privileges, with the final sentencing bumping that into a lifetime loss.
"We would like to thank both county attorney's offices for all of their work through the years on these cases," said FWP Region 2 Warden Captain, Kyle Miller. "The Ravalli County Attorney's Office, and particularly Deputy County Attorney David Lakin, dedicated a lot of time and energy to these cases, and we appreciate his extra efforts."
FWP game wardens say that wildlife crime investigations like this one are often initiated or solved because of leads from the public. Visit tipmont.mt.gov for more information on reporting natural resource crimes and who to contact in your local area.