A “Southeast Alaska Deer Operation” resulted in 53 charges or citations to dozens of people, including a Juneau resident, in a joint effort between state and federal wildlife law enforcement officials, the Alaska State Troopers reported Monday.
“The Alaska Wildlife Troopers, along with assistance from United States Forest Service Law Enforcement, increased their enforcement presence during the Southern Southeast Sitka Blacktail deer ‘rut’ in early November of 2023,” an AST dispatch Monday states. “This operation included the use of increased manpower, 12 patrol vehicles, four patrol vessels, five artificial wildlife, and a lot of rain gear.”
Five rifles and multiple spotlights were also seized, according to AST.
“The program targeted two main areas of concern that the public has made complaints about over the last couple of years: Spotlighting and shooting from the roadway,” the dispatch states. “The State of Alaska expects all hunters to realize the importance of hunter conduct and the need for safe firearm use and fair chase practice.”
The criminal charges against people listed — mostly Southeast Alaska residents — include taking game with artificial light, illuminating deer from a motorized land vehicle in units 1-5, taking game from a boat, driving while license is suspended and driving without a valid license.
Citations issued included shooting from the roadway citations, with Timothy Dudley, 46, of Juneau, among the 27 people specified in AST’s dispatch. Other citations to people included fail to validate harvest ticket, hunting without a valid hunting license, sportfishing without a valid license and driving without vehicle insurance.
