Lifetime Ban for Hunting Host Caught in Deer Poaching Case

If you hunt in Montana, here’s a story you might want to follow closely. Matt Jennings, host of the hunting television program The Game, was just fined and given a lifetime ban from hunting and fishing in Kansas. His crime? Killing two whitetail deer illegally and broadcasting the resulting hunts on his show.

According to court documents, Jennings shot one deer in the wrong location, tagged it in Oklahoma to conceal the violations, and then, a week later, shot another buck in Kansas in violation of the one-buck-per-season rule. That’s not an accident. That’s a full-on plan.

The punishment is no joke

Jennings now owes $15,000 in restitution, a $10,000 fine, and has to surrender the antlers. He is on probation for five years and is not allowed to hunt, guide, or even accompany other hunters in nine separate states. Kansas effectively told him: “Don’t even think about picking up a rifle here again.”

Unfortunately, Montana is NOT one of the states he can't hunt

Montana’s hunting tradition runs deep, and so do our game laws. Fish, Wildlife & Parks is just as hard-nosed, and yes, they do surf what people put online. If a TV host can lose his hunting rights in Kansas, think of what happens here when someone tries to play around with the rules.

This isn’t about scaring anyone. It is about respecting the animals, the seasons, and the hunters who take it upon themselves to do it right. Poach here and Montana won’t just fine you, they’ll ensure you’re remembered, and for all the wrong reasons.