Three members of the Montana Army National Guard are facing criminal charges after allegedly landing a military Black Hawk helicopter on private property to retrieve elk antlers—without the landowner’s permission.
According to court filings obtained by The Big Timber Pioneer, the incident occurred near Melville, a small rural town in Sweet Grass County. The Guardsmen—identified as Michael Vincent Bray of Helena (30), Perry Wray Woodland of Great Falls (30), and Deni Lynn Draper of Clancy (36)—have been charged with criminal trespass after entering clearly posted private land in search of shed antlers.
One citation specifically states that Bray “landed [a] military helicopter on private property,” marking a potentially serious misuse of government resources.
Under Montana law, criminal trespass is defined as knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully on someone else’s property. If convicted, the defendants face penalties of up to six months in jail and/or a fine of $500.
The landowner, Linda McMullen, was out of town at the time and only learned about the helicopter landing from a neighbor. “This is just one time they got caught,” she said, voicing broader concerns that this might not be an isolated event.
Her reaction has been echoed by residents in Melville, including Bonita Cremer, owner of the local Café 191, who called the incident both “a misuse of taxpayer dollars” and “a bold and aggressive trespass.”
Melville residents have noted an uptick in military aircraft activity in the area, which is part of the broader rural appeal of Montana. “We all love it for the same reasons—the beauty, the space—but this is a violation of that trust,” Cremer said.
Elk antlers, which are naturally shed by bulls in the spring, can carry market value depending on their condition. Mark and Jackie Steilgleman, who run antler-based businesses in Bozeman, explained that while premium “brown” antlers can fetch up to $13 per pound, they don’t believe profit was the motive in this case.
“We support our military,” said Mark Steilgleman. “This was probably a misjudgment. They likely thought it was harmless.” His wife, Jackie, added, “Just because you see them doesn’t mean they’re yours to take.”
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Author: Mark Stevens
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