A Lincoln man, who state investigators say violated just about every wildlife law there is, will not be allowed to hunt for 20 years after being sentenced in District Court Wednesday on two felony charges.

Jeff Jorgensen, 36, will pay $17,000 in restitution to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for unlawful possession of a game animal and unlawful sale of a game animal, both by common scheme.

Jorgensen also received five-year suspended sentences to the Department of Corrections for each charge to run concurrently.

After a game warden served a search warrant at Jorgensen’s home in May, they found evidence of about 11 years of violations. Journals, photographs, hunting licenses, antlers and hides told the tales of the animals — including 14 deer, five bears and a mountain lion — and how they were illegally hunted. Jorgensen was subsequently arrested in July.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Regional Investigator Chad Murphy testified that Jorgensen had hunted during closed season, including hunting at night and using bait.

“Most hunters don’t kill that many animals legally in a lifetime,” he added.

Jorgensen would falsify paperwork to put the animals’ kill date earlier in the year, when that game’s season was still open, in addition to making phony kill sites, Murphy said. He also would shoot animals in his yard, which is an archery-only area.

Court documents said Jorgensen used a motion camera to catch animals at his baited sites.

State Probation and Parole Officer Cathy Murphy, who conducted the pre-sentence investigation, recommended Jorgensen receive a five-year suspended sentence for each felony and 30 days in jail along with 20 years of suspended hunting, fishing and trapping rights.

Jorgensen, who had no previous felony charges, pleaded with Judge Thomas Honzel to allow him to hunt with his children.

“That’s where our life is, is hunting and fishing,” he said. “I chose the wrong way in the past. It’s not going to happen again.”

Honzel said Jorgensen can take his children fishing but cannot fish himself. He’s not allowed to accompany anyone who is hunting, trapping or fishing himself.

“There’s no reason for you not to know that most of what went on over this long period of time was illegal,” Honzel said. “You went a long period of time when you decided these laws did not apply to you. They do apply to you.”

Over the years, Jorgensen also allowed out-of-state acquaintances to illegally hunt on his land and claimed animals that other hunters killed, Murphy said.

“It’s almost like he had to keep up with his hunting buddies for bragging rights,” he added.

An investigation of additional suspects, both local and out-of-state, is ongoing, Murphy said.

Jorgensen also received six-month suspended jail sentences on misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of a raptor for having a road-kill great horned owl mounted, illegal possession of a game animal by common scheme, hunting game animals by the aid of salt or bait, unsworn falsification to authorities and unlawful possession of a game animal.

Reporter Angela Brandt: 447-4078 or angela.brandt@helenair.com