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March
11, 2004 In February 2004, three hunters pled guilty to moose poaching
charges in the United States District Court in Anchorage and were
sentenced to pay fines and serve probation. Spencer E. Allen, 39,
of Homer, Alaska; Raymond M. May, 25, of Kodiak, Alaska; and Michael
S. Conner, 35, of Victor, Idaho, were each fined $500 and ordered
to pay $2000 restitution to the National Park Service for illegal
hunting within the national park section of Lake Clark National
Park and Preserve. Each man has been placed on federal probation
for a period of time during which they are not allowed to hunt or
accompany any hunter in the field anywhere in the United States.
Allen was the principle shooter and is on probation for 18 months.
May and Conner received 12 months probation. Allen and Conner were
charged with "Unlawful taking of wildlife" and May with "Possession
of unlawfully taken wildlife." In September 2001, the three men
went moose hunting in a coastal area of the national park. A local
fishing guide who witnessed the three in the park contacted a park
ranger when he felt they were acting suspiciously. A park ranger
contacted the men at their camp and informed them that hunting was
illegal in a national park. The ranger did not see any moose carcass
in the camp. A ranger pilot on patrol later discovered the kill
site near the camp's location. The site was investigated and it
was determined that a bull moose had been shot and some remains
were still at the scene. Rangers and investigators were then able
to track the men by the information they found in the field. Restitution
money paid to the National Park Service is held in a donation account
which is used for wildlife enforcement and hunter education. "Even
a single poaching incident on public lands is of great concern to
us. I commend our park staff, as well as Agents and Refuge Officers
with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on their hard work and assistance
to bring this case to a successful close," said Lake Clark National
Park and Preserve Superintendent Joel Hard. Park rangers investigate
poaching cases every year. National Parks in Alaska are closed to
sport hunting. Sport hunting can take place legally in national
preserves in Alaska. Hunters need to follow procedures in accordance
with the Alaska State Fish and Game regulations. It is the responsibility
of the hunter to determine land ownership for the area they are
hunting in. For more information about hunting in the preserve portion
of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, contact the park at 907-781-2218.
--END--
Privacy & Disclaimer
Author:Jane
Tranel
Last modified on: January 23, 2004
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