National Guard soldiers face serious legal repercussions after using military helicopters to illegally harvest elk antlers from private Montana ranchland, exposing a shocking misuse of government resources for personal gain.
Key Takeaways
- Three Montana National Guard members have been charged with criminal trespassing after landing a military helicopter on private property to collect elk antlers without permission.
- The guardsmen allegedly collected two antlers and a skeletonized elk head with antlers valued between $300-$400 from a ranch north of Big Timber, Montana.
- Ranch owner Linda McMullen reports she was pressured by Guard leadership not to press charges, but insisted on accountability for the unauthorized use of military equipment.
- The incident has triggered both criminal proceedings and an internal National Guard investigation, with the soldiers facing potential fines of up to $500 and six months in jail.
- Elk antlers are highly valuable in Montana’s competitive “shed hunting” market, fetching approximately $14 per pound.
Military Helicopter Used for Personal Elk Antler Collection
In a brazen abuse of military resources, three Montana National Guard members now face criminal charges after allegedly landing a military helicopter on private property to collect valuable elk antlers. Michael Vincent Bray, Perry Wray Woodland, and Deni Lynn Draper reportedly touched down on Linda McMullen’s cattle ranch approximately 25 miles north of Big Timber on May 4. The unauthorized landing was spotted by a neighbor who immediately alerted McMullen to the unusual activity taking place on her property.
Three Montana Army National Guard members face trespassing charges after authorities said they landed a Black Hawk helicopter in a mountain pasture on a private ranch to take several elk antlers before flying away.https://t.co/Uzn5ZqIUzQ
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) May 16, 2025
“He said, ‘Linda, there’s a green Army helicopter landed on your place, picking up elk antlers,'” Ms. McMullen recalled. “I said, ‘Are you joking?’ He said, ‘I’m looking at them with binoculars,” said Ms. McMullen
Sweet Grass County Sheriff Alan Ronneberg confirmed the Guard members took two antlers and a skeletonized head with antlers, items valued between $300 and $400. The sheriff noted that while antler collection is popular in Montana, this case represents an unprecedented escalation in methods. “We’re still trying to figure all this out,” Sheriff Ronneberg said. “Hunting shed antlers is almost a sport in Montana, but never by helicopter. This is the first helicopter I’ve heard of.” The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has charged the service members with criminal trespassing.
National Guard Leadership Response and Pressure on Landowner
Following the incident, McMullen reports she received multiple calls from National Guard leadership attempting to dissuade her from pressing charges against the guardsmen. Despite this pressure from both Guard officials and local law enforcement, the ranch owner insisted on accountability for the unauthorized use of government equipment for personal gain. Major Ryan Finnegan of the Montana National Guard confirmed the basic details of the incident in a statement, acknowledging that “the aircrew allegedly landed on private property and collected antlers.”
“It is not the usual trespass call. I’ve never seen anything like it before,” said Sweet Grass County Sheriff Alan Ronneberg
Major General J. Peter Hronek, the Montana National Guard Adjutant General, issued an official statement confirming that an internal investigation is currently underway. “I am aware of an alleged incident involving a Montana Army National Guard helicopter landing on private property without authorization,” Hronek stated. “If true, this behavior does not align with the values of the Montana National Guard.” The Guard has reportedly reached out to McMullen to apologize and coordinate the return of the illegally collected antlers.
Montana’s Competitive Antler Market Driving Illegal Behavior
Elk antlers have become increasingly valuable in Montana, creating what some locals describe as an “antler war” among collectors. With market prices reaching approximately $14 per pound, shed antlers represent a lucrative opportunity for those willing to collect them. While gathering shed antlers from state-owned land is legal with a conservation license, collecting from private property requires explicit permission from the landowner – permission the guardsmen failed to obtain before their helicopter landing.
“There’s an antler war out there, and they’re very valuable,” said Jackie Steigleman
The accused guardsmen face serious consequences for their actions, with criminal trespassing charges carrying potential penalties of up to $500 in fines, six months in jail, or both. Nathan Hulling, attorney for Michael Bray, has urged the public to remember the presumption of innocence while the case proceeds. This incident highlights growing concerns about government resource abuse and the increasing lengths to which some individuals will go in pursuit of valuable natural resources. The Federal Aviation Administration’s potential involvement in the investigation remains unclear as both the criminal and military investigations continue.
