After killing a sub legal moose, a Soldotna man cut and disposed of a radio collar from the animal’s neck.
Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna were notified on Oct. 2 of moose remains disposed of on Gaswell Road. Wildlife Troopers reported the animal’s hide and guts had been disposed of in the area along with an Alaska Department of Fish and Game moose radio collar. According to the Trooper dispatch, the collar had been cut from the moose’s neck.
From data stored within the collar, Troopers were able to determine that the moose was approximately a 2.5 year old bull that had been killed on Sept. 21 around mile 10 of Kalifornsky Beach Road. Based on the age and previous documentation of the moose by ADF&G, Wildlife Troopers deduced that the moose was most likely sub-legal.
Following an investigation, Troopers identified the suspect as Guy Gonzales, age 42 of Soldotna. Troopers contacted Gonzales who claimed to have harvested a bull moose with 47 inch antlers and three brow tines on one side. Gonzales also admitted to throwing the collar away, stating he did not know what to do with it.
Wildlife Troopers seized the antlers which ended up measuring in at 39 inches and only had two brow tines on each side, not three. The meat was seized and donated to a charity.
Gonzales was charged with multiple class A misdemeanors: taking a sub-legal bull in Game Management Unit 15, Failing to return Identification equipment from marked or tagged game, and unlawful possession of big game.
Gonzales pleaded guilty in the Kenai District Court on Tuesday, Nov. 21 to a misdemeanor count of taking a sub-legal bull moose. Gonzales was given a $1,500 fine, $1,000 restitution for the moose, and sentenced to three years of misdemeanor probation.
