Three U.S. hunters convicted in both countries after poaching Dall sheep through Wrangell-St. Elias

Three U.S. hunters have been convicted in both the United States and Canada for illegally crossing into the Yukon Territory to poach two Dall sheep and transporting the animals back into Alaska through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, a 13.2-million-acre park that spans the international boundary.

The convictions close a four-year investigation that began in August 2022, when park rangers spotted suspicious hunting activity near the border. In Yukon Territorial Court, the three pleaded guilty and received fines, hunting prohibitions, and forfeiture of seized property. In U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, they pleaded guilty to Lacey Act violations and received probation, fines, restitution, and forfeiture of firearms, equipment, and the illegally harvested sheep.

Nine U.S. and Canadian enforcement and prosecutorial agencies worked the case together: the National Park Service, the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Alaska State Troopers, Yukon Conservation Officer Services, Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska, and Yukon Crown prosecutors.

After proceedings concluded, the forfeited sheep horns were returned to the Government of Yukon in May 2026. One set will be used for wildlife education; the second was donated to the National Park Service. The meat had been donated to the White River First Nation, and proceeds from the sale of the capes will support conservation efforts.

"Wildlife does not recognize international borders, and neither does our commitment to conserving these shared resources," said Acting Superintendent Joshua Scott. "The successful outcome of this investigation reflects years of collaboration among U.S. and Canadian agencies working together to hold wildlife violators accountable and protect these resources for future generations."

ISB Chief Deb Flowers said: "I commend the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve team, as well as the ISB Special Agents for their outstanding collaboration with Yukon Conservation Officer Services, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and our federal partners to bring this complex cross-border case to a successful conclusion."