GREAT FALLS — Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of people who shot and killed pelicans – possibly dozens of them – along the Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam.

It is illegal to shoot pelicans – which also are a federally protected migratory bird – in Montana.

FWP said in a press release on Sunday that game wardens have seen or retrieved nearly a dozen dead pelicans in the water between the dam and Two Leggins Fishing Access Site southeast of Billings.

They believe dozens more may have been shot and killed this summer in the same area.

Anyone with information about the illegal killing is asked to call 1-800-TIP-MONT, FWP’s poaching 24-hour poaching hotline, or game warden Jake Barzen at 406-860-7796.

The 1-800-TIP-MONT program lets people report violations of fish, wildlife or park regulations. Callers may remain anonymous.

The FWP website provides the following information about poaching:

Poaching is the illegal killing of fish or wildlife. It can include illegal killing of fish or wildlife:



for commercial trade

for ego gratification

in closed areas, during closed times, or taking more than the law allows

Poachers:

