Montana Hunting Guide Fined $20,000 for Illegally Selling Bighorn Sheep Reproductive Material

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Montana hunting guide has been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to violating the federal Lacey Act in a case involving the illegal sale of reproductive material collected from a wild bighorn sheep harvested during a guided hunt.

John Lewton, a Montana resident, was sentenced October 20, 2026, in federal court in Billings. He received a $20,000 fine and one year of probation for his involvement in the illegal wildlife trafficking case.

The investigation centered on a 2019 bighorn sheep hunt in Montana and the subsequent sale of reproductive material to an alternative livestock ranch.

Trophy Bighorn Sheep Harvested During 2019 Hunt

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), Lewton guided a client on a bighorn sheep hunt on public land in Montana in October 2019.

During the hunt, the client harvested a trophy-sized wild bighorn sheep.

Following the harvest, Lewton collected the animal's testicles and sold them to an alternative livestock ranch in Vaughn, Montana.

FWP officials said the collection and sale of the reproductive material violated Montana laws governing unlawful wildlife activities and alternative livestock ranches.

The violations ultimately resulted in a federal prosecution under the Lacey Act, which addresses certain wildlife trafficking activities involving violations of state and other wildlife laws.

Hunting Guide Prohibited From Commercial Activities

In addition to the $20,000 fine, Lewton was sentenced to one year of probation.

As a condition of his probation, the court prohibited him from participating in commercial hunting, fishing, trapping or outfitting activities for one year.

Lewton is also prohibited from accompanying others in the field who are participating in those commercial activities during the probation period.

The restrictions apply to commercial activities and accompanying others engaged in them, as specified in the court's probation conditions.

Wildlife Officials Raise Concerns About Genetic Material

Montana wildlife officials say the illegal movement and sale of wildlife reproductive material presents concerns for wildlife conservation and disease prevention.

Montana regulates the movement of prohibited species and restricts the unlawful sale of wildlife and wildlife parts.

Those regulations are intended to protect native wildlife populations and reduce the potential spread of disease.

Bighorn sheep are particularly vulnerable to disease-related population losses, making the movement of animals and reproductive material a concern for wildlife managers.

FWP officials say the case illustrates the importance of enforcing regulations involving wild sheep and alternative livestock operations.

FWP Investigators Condemn Illegal Wildlife Trafficking

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks warden investigator Dirk Paulsen criticized the conduct uncovered during the investigation.

"Montanans have worked hard to protect the wildlife that we all cherish," Paulsen said.

He added that individuals involved in the case used technology and other advantages to target highly valued wildlife for personal gain.

FWP warden investigator Bryan Golie, who has worked on the case since 2020, also expressed concern about the commercialization of wild sheep genetics.

"It's a sad thing to see how these wild sheep genetics were stolen from our citizens," Golie said.

He said the material ultimately ended up being sold to out-of-state high-fenced hunting operations for profit.

Protecting Montana's Wild Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep are among Montana's most valued big-game species, and wildlife managers continue to monitor populations for disease and other threats.

The unlawful collection and sale of wildlife reproductive material raises concerns beyond the original harvest, particularly when the material is transferred to facilities where wildlife breeding and commercial hunting activities may occur.

The case serves as a reminder that wildlife regulations extend beyond hunting seasons and licensing requirements to include the possession, transfer and sale of wildlife parts and genetic material.

The Montana FWP investigation began several years ago, with Golie involved since 2020, before Lewton's federal sentencing in October 2026.