Men Sentenced for Illegally Killing Mountain Lion in Yellowstone

Three Montana men were recently sentenced in federal court for illegally killing a mountain lion inside Yellowstone National Park late last year.

Austin Peterson, 20, was ordered to pay roughly $1,700 in restitution and fees. He will also have to serve three years of unsupervised probation, during which time he is banned from hunting, fishing or trapping worldwide.

Trey Juhnke, 20, and Corbin Simmons, 19, each received similar sentences, according to a statement from the National Park Service.

The trio crossed the park's marked boundary to hunt mountain lions, according to the news release. Each of them admitted to shooting the lion and taking the carcass back to their vehicle.

Simmons falsely claimed to have taken the lion north of the park boundary, in Montana. In doing so, he impacted the state's quota system and prevented another hunter from legally harvesting a mountain lion.

Anyone who witnesses criminal or suspicious activity in Yellowstone National Park -- including poaching -- can make a report via a 24-hour Tip Line at 307-344-2132. Callers can remain anonymous.