Dad, son sentenced for illegal aerial herding, killing bull moose near Fairbanks

[Dand]

Its best to hunt by the rules in Alaska. When I was a kid this kind of thing was legal but moose were getting decimated and those of us without airplanes were at a real disadvantage.

Dad, son sentenced for aerial herding, killing of a bull moose south of Fairbanks

byTim Mowry/tmowry@newsminer.com


Feb 29, 2012 |[/size]




FAIRBANKS — A Fairbanks father and son accused of using an airplane to herd a large bull moose the father shot south of Fairbanks in September reached a plea deal with the state this week that resulted in a $5,000 fine and seven days in jail for the father and the loss of an airplane for the son.

Kevin M. Foster, 46, pleaded guilty to same-day airborne hunting, while Kevin Foster II, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession or transportation of game. The two hunters were  originally charged with same-day airborne hunting, unlawful methods of taking game (use of a cell phone), unlawful methods of herding game and unlawful possession of illegally taken game.

[/font][/size]Alaska game laws prohibit taking most big game on the same day a hunter flies. Regulations also prohibit the use of two-way radio communications, including cell phones, in the taking of big game.

The elder Foster was fined $5,000, sentenced to seven days in jail and ordered to pay $1,000 restitution for the moose. He also forfeited the hide, antlers and meat of the moose to the state, as well as a Winchester model 70 .338-caliber rifle with a scope. His hunting privileges were revoked for five years and he was put on probation for five years.

The younger Foster forfeited his Cessna 140 and was fined $2,000. His hunting privileges were revoked for one year.

Fairbanks Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Scott Quist, who investigated the case, said the elder Foster shot a large bull with an antler spread in the high 50 inches on Sept. 20 in game management unit 20A about 40 miles south of Fairbanks.

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