Game officials countrywide are sworn to uphold the laws that protect our valuable natural resources. At times however, they can forget even their own rules. Earlier this month an embarrassing moment occurred when the Montana head of wildlife commission, in charge of ALL the game regulations, was found in violation of just that.

As reported by the Associated Press.

HELENA, Mont. — The head of the commission responsible for setting Montana’s hunting regulations has found himself at the receiving end of one of the warnings his agency issues for illegally salvaging road kill.

The Independent Record reported Tuesday that Bob Ream of the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission got the warning after he tagged a deer struck by his car on Nov. 12.

The commission chairman says most of the carcass was salvageable, so he took it for processing. He says he didn’t realize that was illegal until he mentioned it to a game warden.

Be sure to check the rules in your state before you tag a roadside deer.

Wildlife officials say statutes limit hunting to firearms and archery during times and do not specify scenarios in which game might be taken illegally. Ream says he may seek to clarify the regulations.

The warning required him to donate the meat to a food bank.