Alaska Wildlife Troopers Cantwell Post received information that a hunter shot and killed a sub-legal bull moose and left the moose to waste in GMU13B off the Denali Highway before 4:00 p.m. on September 4, 2021.
According to the online trooper dispatch, a suspect from Soldotna has been formally identified after interviewing several hunters in the area. In addition, a suspect vehicle was developed as well as a side-by-side description in identifying 50-year-old Delon B. Turner. AWT applied for and was granted a search warrant for Turner’s residence and property. On October 31, 2021, Wildlife Investigation Unit personnel and Soldotna Post Wildlife Troopers interviewed Turner and served the search warrant.
Charges of Wanton Waste of Big Game and Take Moose Closed Season were forwarded to the Office of Special Prosecutions for review. On March 24, 2022, in a Rule 11 plea-agreement at the Palmer District Court, Turner pled guilty to Take Moose Closed Season, was fined $5,000 with $2,500 suspended, and ordered to pay restitution for the moose in the amount of $1,000.
The 2017 Polaris General side-by-side, rifle and revolver used in the illegal harvest were forfeited to the state. Turner was placed on probation for two years and his hunting license was revoked for one year.