Montana wildlife agents are appalled by the shooting of a young-of-the-year black bear cub whose carcass was left where it fell.

The cub was illegally shot sometime between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22 west of Stevensville, Montana, in the Missoula region, and reported to authorities on Sunday. No suspects have been found.

“This is about as bad as it gets,” Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Game Warden Louis Royce told Cowboy State Daily.

FWP Region 2 bear manager James Jonkel said that black bear hunting season is open in the area.

Even so, there should have been no mistaking the “fluffy ears and downy head” of a cub far too young to legally shoot, he said.

It was a healthy-looking male, roughly 45 pounds, Royce said.

Found Up A Gated Forest Service Road

The cub’s carcass was found near

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