Soldotna Alaska Wildlife Troopers in September 2021 received an anonymous report that a Nikiski resident killed a sub-legal bull in GMU 15 and left the scene. An investigation revealed 46-year-old Steven Powell shot a moose with an antler spread of 36.8 inches with two brow tines in an area that requires an antler spread of at least 50 inches or three brow tines on one side and left the scene failing to salvage any of the meat of the moose.
Powell is on conditions of release from a previous DUI case that prohibited him from driving anything with a motor, according to the online trooper dispatch. He was later contacted while he was operating an ATV.
He was arrested and remanded to Wildwood pre-trial on charges of violating conditions of release, wanton waste of big game animals, and take sub-legal antler moose in GMU 15A. A Howa 1500 25-06 caliber bolt action rifle, a llama MAX-I-L/F .45 caliber handgun, and a Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV that were used during the commission of the offenses were seized from Powell.
In a judgement on October 3, 2022, Powell pled guilty to wanton waste of big animal and violating conditions of release. He was fined $2,500, ordered to pay restitution of $1,000 for the moose and sentenced to jail for 180 days with 173 days being suspended, all items seized were forfeited to the state and he was placed on probation for five years.
Powell is ineligible to obtain a hunting license until 2027 as a condition of his probation. Powell was sentenced an additional 10 days in jail for his violating conditions of release charge.
