Associated Press
A prominent Alaska Native leader who favors a tough stance against
poachers has been charged with several game violations. Alaska State
Troopers say Ross Schaeffer Senior, mayor of the Northwest Arctic
Borough, hunted ducks without a license near Kotzebue in early
September. Officials say he had no duck stamps, no plugs to limit
shotguns to three rounds, and used lead shot. Schaeffer says he made a
mistake.
Elected borough mayor in 2000, Schaeffer demanded more wildlife
enforcement after the state removed a year-round game warden last year.
The Inupiat town of 3,000 has seen a rise in wasted caribou meat and
blame out-of-town trophy hunters interested only in antlers.
Officials say the charges are noncriminal violations similar to
speeding tickets. Officials say locals have subsistence rights, allowing
them to hunt out of season, but are still required to follow other state
and federal laws.
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