The undercover investigation into the commercialization of Alaskan waterfowl began in early 1991, when agents of the Fish and Wildlife Service became aware of the illegal taking of large numbers of Alaska sea ducks, as well as other species, by a group of taxidermists and hunters hunting primarily near Gambell and Kodiak. The indictments list the illegal taking of a variety of ducks, including the now threatened Spectacled Eider, placed on the Endangered Species list in May, 1993. Also frequently listed in the multi-count indictments are the Stellers Eider, a species for which there is no open season, King Eider, Common Eider, Halequin, and Oldsquaw.
The cases indicted by the grand jury demonstrate the numbers of birds taken by some individuals in violation of Alaska bag limits. Garrett Senk, a taxidermist from Mukwonago, Wisconsin, along with Clifford Johnson, also of Wisconsin, have been charged with killing 67 Spectacled Eiders in a single day during a hunt near Gambell, Alaska. The limit for this species at the time of the hunt was 15 per day.
Each of the eight indictments returned charge numerous violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Several instances are alleged where guides would place hunters on shore and then "rally" or drive the birds toward the land bound hunter, making for and easier kill. Still other guides are charged with hunting ducks while their boat was operating under power sometimes approaching fleeing waterfowl at a high rate of speed and then allowing the client hunter to shoot from the speeding boat. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits both types of hunting practices and requires that when shooting a migratory bird from a boat the boat must have the motor turned off and all forward progress must have ceased.
Although the investigation is ongoing, the charges returned by the grand jury reflect its two pronged purpose - to stop those who take advantage of Alaskas wildlife resources illegally for profit, and to halt the wholesale commercialization and accompanying excesses in the killing of Alaskan waterfowl.
Those named as defendants in the indictments are taxidermists Gary Senk of Wisconsin, and Joe Segler of Michigan, hunters Clifford Johnson of Wisconsin, and Michael Guest of Michigan. Alaska guides Paul Chervenak, and Lloyd Devoe of Kodiak, have been charged along with Vernon Slwooko, Jr. from Gambell.
Arrangement for the individuals charged has been scheduled for September 21, 1995, in Anchorage. Penalties for violations of the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Act, and the Lacey Act are from one to five years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
THESE CHARGES ARE MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED TO BE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AT TRIAL.
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