An outfitter hunting black bear in the Highwood Mountains in central Montana is facing a federal charge after allegedly killing a grizzly.

Bryant Mikkelson of Timber Mountain Outfitters has been indicted on one count of failing to report killing a grizzly bear to federal authorities within five days of the kill.

The indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in Great Falls on Wednesday. It was accompanied by a plea agreement signed by Mikkelson, as well as a document outlining the evidence prosecutors had obtained. Download PDF

Mikkelson declined to comment for this story on the advice of his attorney.

According to court documents, Mikkelson was hunting for black bear on May 27 in the Highwood Mountains east of Great Falls when he shot and killed the grizzly.

"At the time of the

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