WILDLIFEAlaskan gets $100K fine, jail time for poaching 3 moosePublished: Wednesday, December 12, 2018
An Alaska man who poached three moose and left most of the meat to rot has been sentenced to nine months in jail and fined more than $100,000. Rusty Counts, 39, of Anchor Point shot the moose near his community over two weeks in September. He pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to 21 misdemeanor wildlife counts and violations, including wanton waste, exceeding bag limits and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Hunting regulations near the Kenai Peninsula community require moose to have antlers measuring 50 inches wide to be harvested. None of the three moose had the required spread, said Aaron Peterson, an assistant attorney general who prosecuted the case. "The working theory is that he realized they were sublegal and decided not to stick around to salvage the meat," Peterson said Monday. He called the case one of the most egregious poaching events ever seen by Alaska state wildlife troopers. Alaska officials take seriously the harvesting of moose and salvaging of meat, Alaska Department of Fish and Game spokesman Ken Marsh said. A bull moose can weigh up to 1,600 pounds and feed a family for months with meat free of chemicals and hormones. A successful hunt is also a source of pride, Marsh said. "It's a really important part of our culture and tradition, and people take that seriously," he said. Peterson backed the hefty penalties for Counts as a deterrent to others. If Counts had salvaged meat from the first moose, he likely would have been penalized for a single hunting violation. "That meat goes to shelters, food banks. It goes to people who need it," Peterson said. Counts was fined $97,650 and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. He forfeited his rifle and an all-terrain vehicle and was sentenced to 270 days in jail. "If you do the right thing in the field, this kind of thing doesn't happen. But if you poach and leave moose, these are the appropriate sanctions, in the state's view," Peterson said. *— Dan Joling, Associated Press* _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
