Montana’s Wildlife Auction Showcases Rare Confiscated Treasures
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will hold a public auction of confiscated wildlife items Saturday, June 27, at the Expo Center at MetraPark.
The auction, conducted by National Auction USA, will feature antlers, horns, hides, mounts, skulls and frozen specimens from species including elk, deer, antelope, black bears, mountain lions and bighorn sheep. Most items were seized during poaching investigations.
Under Montana law, FWP must sell confiscated wildlife parts at public auction, excluding grizzly bears. Meat from seized animals is donated to charitable organizations, while antlers and other parts are retained for sale. The agency schedules auctions periodically once enough inventory is collected. The most recent auction in 2023 raised more than $82,000 for conservation and restoration efforts.
Doors open at 8 a.m. for preview and inspection, with bidding beginning at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees can register to bid at the door with a valid photo ID. All purchases must be paid for and removed the same day.
Absentee bidding is also available through National Auction USA for those unable to attend in person, with additional handling fees applying. A 5% buyer’s premium will be added to winning bids, with a discount offered for cash or check payments.
Organizers say items will vary and are not finalized until delivered to the auction site, though past auctions have included bundled antlers, trophy mounts and full specimens popular among collectors, taxidermists and craftsmen.
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