Montana
Montana man used animal tissue and testicles to breed ‘giant’ sheep for sale to hunting preserves – The Boston Globe
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) â A Montana rancher illegally used tissue and testicles from wild sheep killed by hunters in central Asia and the U.S. to breed âgiantâ hybrid sheep for sale to private hunting preserves in Texas, according to court documents and federal prosecutors.
Arthur âJackâ Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn, Montana pleaded guilty to felony charges of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to traffic wildlife during an appearance Tuesday before a federal judge in Great Falls. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Court documents describe a yearslong conspiracy, beginning in 2013, in which Schubarth and at least five other people sought to create “giant sheep hybrids” by cross-breeding different species. Their goal was to garner high prices from hunting preserves where people shoot captive trophy game animals for a fee.
Using biological tissue obtained from a hunter who killed a wild sheep in Kyrgyzstan belonging to the world’s largest species of the animals â Marco Polo argali sheep â Schubarth procured cloned embryos of the animal from a lab, according to court documents.
The embryos were later implanted in a ewe, resulting in a pure Marco Polo argali sheep that Schubert named âMontana Mountain King,â the documents show. Semen from Montana Mountain King was used to artificially impregnate other ewes to create a larger and more valuable species of sheep, including one offspring that he reached an agreement to sell to two people in Texas for $10,000, according to the documents.
Male argali sheep can top 300 pounds with horns up to 5 feet long, according to officials, making them prized among some hunters. They are protected under international convention as a threatened species and outlawed for import into Montana to protect native sheep from disease and hybridization.
A person who was not named in court documents shipped 74 ewes of a prohibited sheep species from Minnesota to Schubarthâs ranch to be artificially inseminated with Montana Mountain King semen, the documents show. Offspring that had only a portion of the central Asian sheepâs genetics sold for lesser amounts.
In 2019, Schubarth paid $400 to a hunting guide for testicles from a trophy-sized Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep killed in Montana. Schubarth extracted semen from bighorn sheep testicles and used it to breed large bighorn sheep and sheep crossbred with the argali species, the documents show.
Assistant U.S. Attorney General Todd Kim described Schubarth’s actions as âan audacious scheme to create massive hybrid sheep species to be sold and hunted as trophies.” Kim said the defendant violated the Lacey Act that restricts wildlife trafficking and prohibits the sale of falsely labeled wildlife.
Schubarth said when reached by telephone on Wednesday that his attorney had advised him not to talk about the case.
âI would love to talk about it but canât do it now,â he said. His attorney, Jason Holden, did not immediately respond to telephone messages seeking comment.
Authorities agreed under the terms of a plea deal not to pursue further charges against the defendant pending his cooperation in the governmentâs ongoing investigation in the wildlife trafficking case.
Montana Mountain King is in the custody of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to Department of Justice spokesperson Matthew Nies. As part of the plea deal, Schubert agreed to quarantine any other sheep containing Marco Polo argali genetics and any bighorn sheep that were harvested from the wild.
The deal also allows federal wildlife officials to inspect and, if needed, neuter the animals.
Captive animal facilities where game species can be raised and hunted were banned in Montana under a 2000 ballot initiative. But they remain legal in some other states.
Schubarth’s 215-acre ranch is state-licensed as an alternative livestock facility, said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson Greg Lemon. It was grandfathered in when the 2000 ballot initiative passed and has continued to operate, although hunting is prohibited, Lemon said.
Sentencing for Schubarth is set for July 11 before U.S. District Judge Brian Morris.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 7 drawing
01-04-07-24, Bonus: 14
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 7 drawing
02-18-29-32-51, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
GREAT FALLS — Great Falls High standout Steele Harris has announced his commitment to play football at the University of Wisconsin.
Harris, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound athlete in the Class of 2027, revealed his decision Sunday after receiving interest from several Division I programs.
The Bison star is coming off a standout junior season in which he featured extensively on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Harris totaled 42 receptions for 781 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 460 rushing yards and five scores. Defensively, he recorded 52 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
Harris helped lead Great Falls High to the Class AA playoffs and has emerged as one of Montana’s top college football prospects. He follows his brother Reed Harris to the Power Four level. Reed spent three seasons at Boston College and emerged as a high-level deep threat in the ACC, before transferring to Arizona State this offseason.
Steele will enter his senior season this fall before joining the Badgers program in 2027. Wisconsin is entering its fourth season under head coach Luke Fickell and competes in the 18-team Big Ten Conference alongside programs such as Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon.
For many Montanans, rivers and lakes are more than scenic landscapes. They are a source of food, recreation and identity. Anglers travel across the country to cast a line, and communities rely on these waterways as part of everyday life.
But growing evidence shows that PFAS, a class of so-called “forever chemicals,” are contaminating Montana’s waters and fish.
Recent state studies confirmed PFAS contamination in fish across major Montana waterways, including the Missouri River, Clark Fork River, East Gallatin River and Fort Peck Reservoir. Testing detected these chemicals in popular species such as trout, walleye and northern pike. Larger fish showed especially high concentrations because toxins build up as they move up the food chain.
In some cases, concentrations reportedly reached levels experts say are thousands of times higher than what is considered safe for human consumption. These findings show that PFAS contamination is not isolated. It is present in some of Montana’s most heavily used fisheries.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in products such as firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, waterproof fabrics and food packaging. They are called “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly and can remain in water, soil, wildlife and the human body for decades.
Research has linked PFAS exposure to serious health concerns, including certain cancers, immune system suppression, developmental issues in children, and hormonal and reproductive problems. Because these chemicals accumulate over time, repeated exposure through fish consumption may create long-term health risks.
In response, Montana agencies issued updated fish consumption advisories in 2026 warning residents to limit or avoid eating fish from certain waters. Recommendations include limiting the number of fish meals consumed each month and imposing stricter guidelines for women and children. These advisories, however, are only recommendations.
One of the most troubling aspects of Montana’s PFAS issue is how long it took for the public to learn about it. A key state report identifying high PFAS levels in fish was completed in 2023 but was not publicly released until 2026. Reports suggest state officials were aware of the contamination long before the information became widely available.
Although the state has issued advisories, the public still is not receiving adequate warning, information, or a plan to address this. Researchers also acknowledge that only a small portion of Montana waterways have been tested, meaning contamination could be more widespread than currently known.
The contamination is documented, the health concerns are real, and the exposure is significant. Montana’s ecosystem depends on what we do next.
Morgan E. Tuss of Billings is an attorney with Silverman Law Office.
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