Pondera County man sentenced for poaching trophy buck

A Pondera County man has been sentenced after poaching a trophy white-tailed deer buck last year.

Tony Zimbelman, 23, initially claimed that he’d taken the deer with archery equipment during archery season, a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. Following a tip, game wardens discovered Zimbelman had shot the buck with a rifle the day before archery season opened in September.

An FWP release said it was a large buck and had a Boone & Crockett score — a measure used by hunters that uses distance between points on the deers antlers — of 182.

“This case came about because of an initial tip from a concerned sportsman, and the assistance and support from people like that are incredibly valuable to us,” said Mike Krings, a game warden sergeant who led the investigation for FWP. “Private citizens act as extra eyes and ears in the field for game wardens and help us preserve fair chase opportunities for the vast majority of Montana hunters who do things the right way.”

On March 23, 2026, Zimbelman reached a plea agreement in the Ninth Judicial Court in Toole County and was sentenced to a $3,000 fine and having his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges suspended for two years. He was also sentenced to a suspended sentence of six months in jail.

Tips to FWP can be sent in at topmost.mt.gov.