Montana Takes On Armed Forces by Thomas H. Lineaweaver, Sports Illustrated.
MONTANA TAKES ON THE ARMED FORCES
by Thomas H. Lineaweaver, Sports Illustrated
The State of Montana last week found itself in a state of open war against the military mind, which, it seems, regards state game laws as something less than sacred. A month ago Montana took on the Air Force, last week the Navy, and it seems quite prepared to tackle anyone else should it become necessary.
Montana’s first skirmish was with three Air Force colonels, a major and a captain. Last month they breezed into Great Falls Municipal Airport from the Pentagon and other places aboard an Air Force C-54, paid $6 for resident hunting licenses instead of $100 for nonresident ones and disappeared into the Seeley Lake country. Five days later all five were arrested by Game Wardens Jim Ford and Ray Thompson of the Missoula Fish and Game District and charged with making false statements on their license applications. Each officer posted a $350 bond, left the state and subsequently forfeited the money. Then, last week, came word that five naval officers ranging from lieutenant to commander and all active at the Alameda Naval Air Station near San Francisco had tried a similar gambit with similar results. Unfortunately, by the time Montana agents had enough evidence to make arrests, the wayward officers, in spite of roadblocks, had retreated to California and could not be extradited. Montana, however, won the day. Under California law all five were arrested for illegal possession of game and, under the federal Lacey Act, for transporting illegal game across state lines. A sixth man, a petty officer, was a bona fide Montana resident, but he had brought back an elk for one of the officers and was also arrested. The five officers mailed $200 each to Montana, the luckless resident $52.50. Whatever else may be learned from this unbecoming military conduct, one lesson is clear. It is cheaper to buy a nonresident Montana hunting license than pay the high cost of fibbing.
The above article appeared in Sports Illustrated December 3, 1956.
Edited by Thomas H. Lineaweaver.