Poaching is a Dirty Word in Montana.

There is genuine satisfaction in reading about another set of convicted misfits who skipped that day in nursery school when we talked about playing by the rules.

Since 1982 Texas resident William Hudson has been coming to Montana to hunt. But since 2000, Texas resident William Hudson has also been coming to Montana to poach. And because he was a big eater, Hudson invited his wife to join in his annual trip to the Montana public meat market.

Acting on a tip to the state's poaching hotline (TIP-MONT), game warden Shane Brosovich found that Hudson had overlooked the pesky little regulation requiring an out of state hunting license. So he borrowed one. Judge Judy would have chortled.

Poaching isn't just a cooking technique in southwest Montana. The "P" word carries some rather hefty fines and penalties. In this case $22,500, loss of hunting privileges in 23 other states and extra benefits. ..like Mr. and Mrs. Hudson now get to see their names lit up on computer screens all over the country.

Two Montana wardens traveled 1500 miles to correct the impression that kidnapping Montana natives and hanging them in your living room is a legitimate hobby.

How they ever will cover the bare spaces on those walls should be a major concern to Mrs. Hudson because the Montana wardens retrieved 13 mule deer and white-tailed buck deer racks, one big horn sheep ram head, 11 non-trophy bull elk racks, and a trophy 6×6 bull elk rack. The Hudsons were evidently good shooters. Just not good hunters.

Message to Texans: "Don't Mess With Us." Read the dirty details.