Three men have been charged in an illegal big game guiding operation just south of Fairbanks after a yearlong investigation, Alaska State Troopers said Thursday.
The investigation was spurred when wildlife troopers found that employees at Gold King Creek Alaska Adventures had illegally harvested a moose in September 2018, according to a statement from troopers.
The business, which is owned by 58-year-old Phillip “Kib” Cannon of Fairbanks and 55-year-old Lawrence Chuderewicz of Clear, is licensed to provide recreational and vacation camping and gold ore mining. Ken Marsh, a spokesman for the troopers, said the business was advertising for hunts of all big game in the area.
During the past year, troopers said, they interviewed clients from Canada and the Lower 48 and served search warrants on the business.
On Thursday, Cannon and Chuderewicz were charged with several misdemeanors, including guiding or advertising without a license, unlawful possession and transportation of game and using a motorized vehicle in the Wood River Controlled Use Area. Chuderewicz is also facing a felony charge of tampering with evidence.
Investigators said 55-year-old Rex Sluchinski of Canada had hunted with Chuderewicz. He is charged with using a motorized vehicle in the controlled use area, nonresident hunting without a guide and unsworn falsification. Marsh said he was charged in part because “nonresident aliens must have a licensed guide to hunt moose in Alaska.”