The Associated Press

HELENA – Three hunters were cited and many more received verbal warnings after reports that dozens of hunters were firing into a herd of about 500 elk near Canyon Ferry Reservoir on the second day of the general big-game hunting season.

“There were a bunch of cows (female elk) and they were swirling around trying to keep this year’s and last year’s calves in the center,” said Betsy Brandborg, who was about to go hiking near White Gulch when she saw two lines of hunters preparing to fire into the herd. “Where could the elk go? They were trapped.”

Brandborg said that as she drove away, she saw a near continuous line of pickup trucks heading toward where the herd was. Area landowner and outfitter Kelly Flynn told the Helena Independent Record he saw a large number of vehicles parked in the area, and he believes the hunters were using cellphones to coordinate the hunt.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens said 30 elk were killed Oct. 26, an unknown number were injured and a 5-by-5 bull was seized from one of the shooters.

The herd moved among public, private and block-management land (overseen by the state and landowners) throughout the day as hunters continued to shoot at them, Warden Justin Feddes said. As word of the herd spread, more people came out, with some attempting to keep the elk on the flat with vehicles, Feddes told the Independent Record.

“Unfortunately a situation like that brings out the worst in unethical hunter behavior,” Warden Sgt. Dave Loewen said.

Robert B. McCaslin and Brett Gene McMurphy of Great Falls and Kenneth Garrison of East Helena were cited for hunting big game without landowner permission. The bull elk was seized from Garrison. None of the men had a listed phone number.

All three were ordered to appear in Justice Court in Broadwater County. The citations carried a $170 bond.

Feddes said they issued numerous verbal warnings as well.

Outfitter Kelly Flynn said he’s seen the gang mentality of hunters when they’ve surrounded elk in the past.

Tribune Staff Writer David Murray contributed to this story.