Great Falls Area News

Montana man cited for shooting at goose decoys

Posted: Nov 5, 2012 4:12 PM by MTN News

GREAT FALLS - A Great Falls man was charged with three misdemeanors for shooting at goose decoys that he thought were real while the waterfowl hunters hunkered down nearby.

A press release from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks states that Anthony Derosa, 41, was charged with shooting from a roadway and waterfowl hunting without state and federal waterfowl stamps.

The incident happened on Nov. 3 when FWP game warden Brett Logan was called by 1-800-TIP-MONT to Morony Dam Road; Cascade County Sheriff's deputies also responded.

A pair of goose hunters said they had set out several decoys in a field and were camouflaged lying nearby when a small white car stopped on the road about 100 yards away.

Someone jumped out and started shooting at the decoys with a .22 caliber rifle.

Warden Logan found Derosa and the car at Morony Dam.

Derosa claimed he thought the geese were real but he was just trying to get them to fly, according to Logan.

Logan added that the goose hunters were fortunate, explaining that they normally sit inside the group of decoys but on a whim decided to lie in the field away from them.

Derosa faces fines of $135 for each of the three charges and possible revocation of his hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges.