At their camp, troopers located ten sets of antlers, six capes and approximately 140 pounds of meat. Citations were is sued to nine of the hunters for wanton waste of big game, and the tenth was issued a citation for the transportation of antlers from the kill site without being accompanied by all of the edible meat. Usually hunters convicted of the violation spend a minimum of one week in jail, and it makes no difference if you are a resident or non resident. Residents who depend on game meat are quick to call troopers or agents if they see antlers being transported without meat accompanying them, as was apparently done in this case. Frequently, hunters will leave the meat as they or their guides do not want the added cost of shipping the meat from a camp or town.
Some guides transfer the meat to families in the villages they frequent where it is appreciated.
Apparently since the citations were issued, eight of the hunters have entered not guilty pleas through their attorney and their trials will be held in Aniak, a community dependent upon a subsistence lifestyle. We, as law enforcement officers, frequently do not know who we are contacting when we make field contacts during the hunting season. For this reason alone, we must remain alert to our surroundings and the people we deal with. We don't know what their reaction may be. The following information is from the RCMP in Whitehorse and Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory.