Two Montana men charged after alleged Sun River duck overharvest

Two Montana men are facing felony charges after wardens said they were 181 ducks over the legal limit along the Sun River, a haul that wildlife officials say cuts straight to conservation, fair hunting and respect for a public resource in Lewis and Clark County.

John Carullo of Simms and Matthew Krekelberg of Bozeman were charged in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court with felony unlawful possession, shipment and transportation of game fish, bird or furbearing animal. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden Per Wolfisberg was patrolling near the Sun River on Jan. 14 when he got permission from a landowner to check two waterfowl hunters on private land along the river, and investigators later said the pair had killed 120 ducks over two days while using two shotguns each.

The case was filed March 25 and quickly stood out from a routine wildlife citation because of the scale of the alleged overharvest. Wardens said the total was 181 ducks over the legal limit, a level that investigators say threatens the idea that hunting rules apply evenly to everyone who uses Montana’s waterways and wetland corridors.

If convicted, each man could face up to $50,000 in fines, up to five years in prison and a loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for at least three years. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says its enforcement division investigates unlawful taking and unlawful possession of wildlife, and the agency has continued to push hunters toward ethical conduct and reporting violations through TIP-MONT.

The Sun River corridor is not just another stretch of water. Montana hunting regulations include Migratory Birds rules and special restrictions in the Helena and Lake Helena area, reflecting how closely managed waterfowl hunting is around the capital region. The Sun River Wildlife Management Area, established in 1948, adds another layer of significance to the area, where wardens, landowners and hunters all share an interest in keeping pressure on ducks, geese and other migratory birds within legal limits.

FWP has also said a witness report recently led to a successful investigation in multiple hunting violations, underscoring how field tips and close cooperation with landowners continue to drive enforcement. In a county where the Sun River remains a major hunting corridor, the case now moves from the marsh to the courtroom with serious criminal exposure for both men.