He shot a trophy buck. When he came back to retrieve it, thieves had stolen it

The joy an older Troy man experienced after bagging a 5x5 white-tailed buck Nov. 20 in the Lower Yaak was quickly dashed after it was stolen, along with some of his hunting gear.

Bob Swiden, 74, was hunting about three miles up the Yaak River Road when he bagged the big buck. One of the antlers had a broken point. He began to drag the deer toward his truck, but he started having chest pains. 

“I went to get help and when we got back, the deer and my backpack were gone,” Swiden said. “It was only about 40 minutes from when I left to when we returned, so whoever it was didn’t waste any time getting out of there.” 

Swiden’s daughter, Hali VanGorder, works at Alta Vista Meat Co., west of Troy. 

“It’s really disappointing someone would do this,” she said. 

Swiden said he knows it’s too late to get the deer back, but is hopeful he can get his pack back due to some of the gear it held. 

“It’s an orange mesh pack and it has a little folding saw, an old knife my uncle gave to me, a deer bleat call and a couple of pads I sit on,” Swiden said. “The saw has a pretty unique handle, too. It’s made of black walnut that I brought here from home in Pa.” 

Swiden said he was a few hundred yards from his truck when he started feeling ill. 

“We always tell him, if you need help, just come to the shop and someone will help you,” VanGorder said. “Pat went to help him, but everything was gone.” 

Swiden had a heart attack a few days later, but is recovering at home. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden Sawyer Johnson is investigating the incident, which he called, “completely unacceptable.” 

“It occurred in what the locals call Teepee Flats area, about three miles up the Yaak River Road,” Johnson said. “He had tagged and gutted the deer and got back around noon, but it was gone. If anyone was hunting in the area and saw something, they can call me at 406-291-6539.” 

Johnson said callers can remain anonymous and a reward up to $1,000 may be available if information leads us to who did this.” 

They can also visit tipmont.mt.gov to provide information. 

Interestingly, it’s not the only incident of theft of a buck in the region. 

According to a Oct. 30 Facebook post by FWP, wardens are investigating the theft of a white-tailed buck’s head from a legally harvested deer west of Kalispell on opening weekend. 

The hunter, who had successfully harvested the deer, left the site briefly to retrieve a game cart. 

When he returned, he discovered the the deer’s head was removed and taken. 

Cuts marks were found on the carcass where the head was removed. 

The deer head can be identified by 5-by-5 antlers with a unique drop tine. 

Anyone with possible information is asked to visit tipmont.mt.gov or call the local game warden at 406-871-3104. 

Callers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. 

With the value of antlers on the rise, thefts are becoming more common.