Conservation officers are on the lookout for one or more poachers who slaughtered a pregnant moose cow two weekends ago, leaving behind edible remains near Highway 113 south of Rosswood.
“This is an ongoing problem for us,” said local conservation officer Gareth Scrivner, adding that leaving behind edible meat portions would be among fines amounting to several thousands of dollars that could be levied.
“If anybody knows someone who recently returned from hunting with just three quarters of a moose, that would be of interest to us,” said Scrivner.
“I suspect they shot right from the truck,” he continued of those who killed the moose. “We would probably take them to court.”
The killing was one of several that Scrivner says have been endangering the already low moose population in the area.
A six day open season on moose ended October 26, however only for bulls. The cows are protected because they keep the population growing through birthing new generations of moose, with only one male needed to service several cows, said Scrivner.
Scrivner said in between five to 10 moose are poached in the Rosswood area each year.
There are only 20 cows in the area so that has a huge impact on the herd.
And the six day open season on moose bulls that ended Oct. 26 was to give people “the opportunity to enjoy the privilege of hunting with each other,” he added.
A road block program has seen “a reduction in the number of people not packing guns on their trips to Terrace,” said Scrivner.
However, access to wilderness areas has increased because of newer roads constructed for industry, he said.
And the large wolf population in the Rosswood area has had an impact, he added.