More than 500 sets of deer, moose, elk and caribou antlers were seized by Alberta fish and wildlife officers last month and a central Alberta man has been charged with unlawfully trafficking in wildlife in connection with the find.
Garland Larry Poyser of Sedgewick, Alta., is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 16 to face four charges related to the discovery of 543 sets of antlers at Poyser Auto Service on Aug. 25. Of those, 500 were from white-tailed and mule deer, 36 from moose, six from elk and one from caribou.
The Alberta solicitor general’s department said in a news release that charges were laid after a four month undercover investigation in the Lougheed area.
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The maximum penalty for illegally selling or possessing wildlife for the purpose of selling is $100,000 in fines and/or two years in jail. Unlawful possession of wildlife brings a potential fine of $50,000 and/or one year in jail.
“The trafficking of wildlife is highly regulated in Alberta, and wildlife can only be sold under very stringent and controlled conditions,” said the news release.
“Unregulated trade creates a potential marketplace that may imperil the future of Alberta’s wildlife resources.”
For a photo of the seized antlers click here.
