Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte got a slap on the wrist from wildlife officials after he violated state hunting regulations in the trapping and killing of a wolf near Yellowstone National Park last month.

On Feb. 15, weeks after taking office, Gianforte killed an adult gray wolf on a ranch owned by Robert E. Smith, director of the conservative Sinclair Broadcasting Group and a contributor to Gianfortes 2017 congressional campaign, the Mountain West News Bureau first reported Tuesday .

Its legal to kill wolves with a license in Montana but only after completing a wolf-trapping certification course that gives background on how to do so ethically, humanely and lawfully, according to the student manual. Inside the national park boundaries, the wolves are protected.

He was let off with a written warning and was permitted to keep its skull and hide.