Iditarod winner Jeff King's trial turns into map muddle
Originally published Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 7:54 a.m.
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — The first day of Iditarod champion Jeff King’s federal trial on charges of illegally killing a moose largely focused on the boundaries of Denali National Park.
Attorneys for both sides spent more than seven hours questioning park ranger John Leonard, the ranger who led the investigation into the killing of a bull moose last September rangers said was 600 feet inside Denali’s northern boundary.
The 52-year-old King, who last won the Iditarod in 2006, does not deny taking the moose, but claims it was well outside of the park’s boundary. Only federally qualified subsistence users, which King is not, are allowed to hunt within park boundaries.
More than a dozen neighbors and family members made the two hour trip from Denali Park to Fairbanks for the first day of the court trial presided over by Federal Magistrate Judge John D. Roberts.
Leonard recounted how he contacted King and one of his daughters while on patrol and at first had no suspicions about the musher, except that he had not validated his harvest ticket for the moose.
“He made mention that the reason he hadn’t notched the harvest ticket was because he was out of practice and hadn’t usually been successful in his hunts,” Leonard said.
The ranger testified that he gave King a warning about the ticket, but the encounter was otherwise “cordial.”
“I had no reason to believe at all the moose had been poached inside the park,” Leonard said.
Later that day, Leonard and an Alaska Wildlife Trooper found a pile of bones just outside the park’s boundary, and the gut pile at the kill site was located 600 feet within the park.
“I felt that somebody snuck one out under our noses,” Leonard said.
The ranger obtained a search warrant of King’s home, and contacted him a few weeks later. King admitted that the moose was likely his and surrendered its rack and meat. Prosecutors played the conversation in court Monday in which King, who said he has hunted in the area for at least nine years and lived in Denali Park for 30 years, expresses his surprise at the accusations.
“I think the bottom line was that I knew it was close,” King said on the tape. “I always knew it was close, but I’ve never seen a goddamn thing marked.”
King’s attorney, fellow musher Myron Angstman of Bethel, questioned the location of the park’s border in his cross-examination. While prosecutors entered more than 20 maps and pictures of the park’s boundary into evidence, Angstman questioned different boundaries on them as well as the width of the boundary lines, which varied from approximately one-sixteenth of a mile to several miles, depending on the size of the map.
Also at issue are the locations of metallic markers delineating the park’s boundary. Angstman submitted several photos into evidence showing that the markers are almost impossible to spot while walking along the border.
He questioned whether the park rangers were even able to locate them when returning to the kill site in a helicopter.
“We had to look for them, yes,” Leonard said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cooper countered that a hunter would know where the park’s boundaries were by using GPS coordinates available on the Denali Park Web site, though Angstman wondered if an older person who is less familiar with computers would be able to find that information easily on the Web site.
“I’ve got to tell that you that last night I tried to search for a map of the park on the Web site, and I couldn’t find it,” Angstman said to laughs from those in the courtroom.
King at first told investigators that he had a GPS with him on his hunt, but later said he used only a map.
If convicted of both counts of taking wildlife in a national park and illegally operating a motor vehicle in a park, King faces up to a year in a prison and a fine of $10,000. The trial is scheduled to continue at 9 a.m. today.
Community Discussion
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This is a guy who managed to navigate his way through a 1000+ mile dog sled race through some of the most difficult and rural terrain the in world, yet doesn't care to take due care to determine if he is breaking the law by hunting within a National Park?
Jeff King does not know how to read a map? This is his defense?
Jeff King has lived in the denali park area for 30 years and I gather from reading this hasn't had any other offences against him? If this is true then why on earth are our tax dollars being spent on this prosecution? If this is indeed a first offence and the evidence is so "tight" why could this not be setteled with some type of warning or fine?
I'm not saying give him a free pass because he is a iditarod musher by any means, I am just saying that if the man has lived there for 30 years and if this IS in fact his first encounter with law enforcement then taking this to trial seems a bit much given the evidence I read in this report.
This prosecution is making a mockery of our justice system, and wasting monumental tax dollars. Imagine how it feels to be an upstanding, law abiding citizen, and to have to endure months of anxiety and worry, not to mention to have to provide for a competent and vigorous defense. This is an emotionally and financially significant event not only for Jeff King, but for his entire family. Something must be done to curb the practice of using the criminal justice system for agendas wholly unrelated to justice. It is already clear that there is no crime here. The federal employees in this case are abusing a citizen, the system, and our constitution.
This is wrong. Everyone has diffrent maps your map could show you are safe but there map could show you are way wrong. How did the guy check his tag if he didnot even know it was his moose. He said I felt that somebody snuck one out under our noses. If you ever have cleaned a moose and deboned it you are going to be there a long time. They did not do there job its there fault. Its not like he was there 1 min and gone the next. He left the bones and guts so he was there for atleast 4 to 5 hours or longer. The park rangers need more to do up there like make better markers instead of driving around all day. I hope they prove the parks rangers wrong and they have to pay for all that moose meat and horns. You know the horns are probally hanging somewere in the park on someones cabin and the meet is probally already rotten or it has been given away.
Running the Iditarod requires a wide range of finely honed skills, but inland navigation is not among them. The trail is broken out and marked with survey stakes ahead of the leading musher. A surprising percentage of long distance racers are not particularly skilled with map & compass.
There is a waypoint list for the park boundaries on their web-site, but you have to do a bit of digging to find them. Click on the site index and then start scrolling down a very long page until you find the correct .pdf file. It's not listed in any of the navigation frames that I saw.
Once upon a time it was NPS policy for rangers to take the least invasive action necessary to gain compliance with the law. I'd suggest the policy has changed considerably in the past 20 years or so.
I think this one could go either way and I'm glad I don't have to be the one making the decision.
Obfuscation and deflection. The lawyers best friends.
Mr King should know were he is hunting. He said himself he knew it was close. Ignorance in no excuse.
Perhaps the Park Service trail crew members that trampled some Ahtna bushes by "accident", could testify on the difficulties of boundary delineation.
Hey Angus,
What agenda are you talking about anyway?
Swanny, least invasive - what would you suggest? "Mr. King, you are a bad, bad man. Don't poach a moose again or we might have to slap your hand." or maybe "Mr. King we are so sorry for having bothered you about poaching a moose, what with your busy racing schedule and all, next time you want to hunt in the park call us first and we will set it up for you."
This trial is about one thing - a proud man who doesn't want to admit he is wrong. He has received the exact same treatment everyone else who has been caught hunting in the park in recent years has received - a summons for two relatively minor misdemeanors that could be taken care of by lightening his wallet a few hundred dollars. Instead HE has chosen to try this in the media, and HE has chosen to force the government to spend thousands of dollars to bullet-proof and present their case. As is his right, of course. It is HE who has linked his personal reputation and sponsorships, and then put both on the line by acting recklessly at best, and intentionally at worst.
Day two here we come. Hey Newsminer, why didn't you print some of the more pertinent details of his recorded conversation that was played in court? Are you getting tired bending over backwards yet?
Just exactly where was that "mudhole" made bigger? The civil servants want "out" of their mistake, but let an ordinary citizen make a boundary mistake and all hell breaks loose...
"Interesting" I thought. "I wonder if the park boundaries are really that hard to find."
So I went to google.com
I typed in "denali national park boundaries"
The first link had GPS coordinates.
It took less than a minute.
Jeff King is an honorable man. One that does not cheat, to my knowledge lie, or otherwise try and steal something that is not his. He will prevail at this trial, and as flyer5000 says, it is HE that is bringing this forward to a trial. It is just a good thing for him that he has the where-with-all to do that. An individual without means would just be forced into taking the fines and giving up his meat and rack. I cant see a jury in Alaska that would convict anyone on these charges, or at least on the information that we have been given so far. Good Luck Jeff
I have known Jeff all of my life, and In fact I grew up in the Park Service. My family still lives there and to be honest, I don't know that I could tell you the boundaries are... Yes, I know what GPS is and how it works, but from my experience it is not always completely accurate.
If this was someone that was not as "well known" as Jeff, would there be this huge ordeal?
GOOD LUCK JEFF....
KenWoods:
Congrats on finding it on a computer screen, now get up and hike out into the park and tell me how easy it is to spot boundaries...
KenWoods: I doubt Mr. King had wireless Internet available to him on his hunt.
The truth is in the guts. Never heard anyone moving a gut pile. He decided to take this to trial, so let the jury decide. Ignorance of a how to read a map, now that's a novel defense.
Angstman is doing a classic defense manuever--create a little confusion, just a little, about the maps. And then in closing argument, play that up--is there really proof beyond a reasonable doubt--if you have a reasonable doubt, you must acquit. King knows about harvest tickets and boundaries, this is not something he is not aware of. Oh and the testimony first I had a GPS, then I did not? Come on folks
If the park ranger can't read the damn maps and show the markers how in the world can they claim I should? The ranger Rick guy Leonard is making a wild claim about poaching.
Pure BS from the Park Service and he will not be found guilty.
I imagine Steve Cooper is feeling pretty crappy having to prosecute this BS case from park ranger John Leonard.
This is a complete waste of my tax dollars,,
Cut the parks budget in half for being wasteful, and send home without pay a couple of federal lawyers.
I just wonder what the cost per pound of this mouse is?
Boundary deliniation is a profession for a reason. It is very difficult and expensive to do. Besides,even with a map and a GPS you could't prevent a fatally wounded moose from running 600 feet. In proportion to the size of the area (and the natural markers) 600 feet would be easy to lose track of if you weren't constantly watching your GPS, considering you knew how to use it. If they want to use that kind of precision to make such damaging claims against residents then they need to mark the boundary better. At least near areas where people live. Unless they want to require that hunters own and have training in GPS use.
Park Service and Fish and Game have stepped up enforcement along the northern boundary for the last ten years. They just convicted two hunters a few years ago for moose hunting in the same area. They also got a few hunters on 4 wheelers out on the Sushana River. King knew about those busts and could have been more cautious.
I've had problems finding the boundaries of the Park during snow machine use for making trails. The line on the map can be a quarter inch wide red line so that could make the boundary a mile wide. So maps get you close but not close enough. To use a compass is worthless because they aren't accurate either due to magnetic variation. You can't use the few markers you find because they were put up so long ago and aren't accurate and you usually only find one- you can line up a compass off that one marker but it won't be accurate.
GPS doesn't work real well either because you have to know what the boundary bearing is and then guess if the moose is standing on the other side of the boundary. You can use the GPS compass feature if you first locate a point on the boundary. The only way to really know where the boundary is would be to walk the line with a GPS and put markers up yourself before you start hunting.
The area where Jeff was hunting was open to everybody until 1980 when it was added to the Park. The little town of Cantwell which is about 50 miles south of the area where Jeff was hunting and has a small native population was designated as a "subsistence" zone in 1980. So anyone who lives or moves to Cantwell can qualify to hunt in the area. This despite the lack of historical use by cantwell folks. You couldn't even drive from cantwell to this area (which is north of Healy) until 1971 when the road opened. (Unless you drove the Denali and Richardson all the way around.)
But if you live in Cantwell, regardless of your past history or heritage, you can hunt anywhere in the new Park areas- including Kantishna (120 miles from Cantwell) and the north boundary area where Jeff was hunting. Ironically Jeff lives a lot closer to the area than cantwell residents do and he has a history of subsistence use prior to 1980 in the north additions. He may have been able to get a subsistence hunting permit based on past use- wonder if he ever tried.
These federally designated subsistence areas exist all over the state and have fostered a lot of resentment which causes non-preferred hunters to push the rules and sometimes ignore the boundaries.
I see several mentions of a jury. Normally this trial would not have a jury since its a misdemeanor. anybody know if Jeff got the jury that he requested?
First, I'll directly quote the article.
<quote>
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cooper countered that a hunter would know where the park’s boundaries were by using GPS coordinates available on the Denali Park Web site, though Angstman wondered if an older person who is less familiar with computers would be able to find that information easily on the Web site.
“I’ve got to tell that you that last night I tried to search for a map of the park on the Web site, and I couldn’t find it,” Angstman said to laughs from those in the courtroom.
King at first told investigators that he had a GPS with him on his hunt, but later said he used only a map."
<endquote>
So.
Let's look at this situation.
The lawyer can't find the maps. From Bethel or not, that's theatrical crap solely designed to influence the jury into thinking the maps are hidden. They're not, as I showed earlier--it took less than a minute to find the required information.
King says he had a GPS, then, oh, wait, no, really, he didn't, he was using a map and was confused. Riiight. We know he owns a GPS. That's been proven by his first statement of having a GPS with him, but then later saying he only used a map. That's a lie that he's caught in. Using a GPS is not something that you just do and forget about. They are a tool requiring active thought to use. You don't just "forget" that you didn't use it.
As has been mentioned earlier, this is a case of arrogance. This man, for whatever reason, decided that he would not only push the limit, but also did so willingly. He made a poor decision and got caught.
The comments above that suggest that he would need internet access out there shows that he can't plan and would need to get these maps when he got confused as to the boundary was located. Is this a trait of an Iditarod winner?
Knowing that he was going to be close to the park and knowing that he can't hunt in the park, prudence would require him to know where the boundary is. As shown, he owns a GPS. Even if he owns a 15 year old outdated, non-mapping GPS, they all give coordinates. Scribble them down on an envelope and consult them if you're unsure.
Anything less shows arrogance and a lack of respect for the law, the park, his community, and the land.
Didn't he say he has been hunting there for something like 30 years? So has he been breaking the law for that many years and finally just got caught? Hrm.
Hrm. In reading some of your comments, it occurs to me that a lot of you are old.
I don't mean that as an insult, so please don't take it as one.
But, regardless, you're old.
You use a map? Like, a printed map?
Perhaps it's my profession, my training, my innate quest of the unknown, and ability for spacial relations, and technical skills.
Perhaps it's my (over)use of technology.
Arc-Pad on a handheld, plus photo imagery, plus a couple of waypoints, plus a couple of tech skills go a long way. I'm sure that your being old, being stuck in a non-digital age, and being afraid of "breaking" something electronic greatly weighs in you inability to understand. But, being old? That's no excuse.
Sure. I've heard it all from old people. "Listen you whippersnapper, that old gadget you have there ain't no map! what are you gonna to do when it breaks?"
I can read a map. I could get "out" from wherever I was if I got lost. Most of the time, I carry a map as a backup, in case my little electronic stuff breaks. I'd fix it. I'd replace the batteries. Or not.
But, in this case, if I didn't know where I was---EXACTLY---I wouldn't have shot.
A personal statement, a personal judgment, a personal rule. But I can only base my opinion on my own experiences and own judgments.
GPS, like LORAN (Long Range Aids to Navigation) is subject to 'variance' of +/- 300 yards unless you are using a military encoded receiver that yields +/- 20 yards......... and only the military encripted verison will correct for intentional added errors.
The best feature of GPS and LORAN is the ability to return to a place time and time again. After that - navigation goes off track. Anyone who has used a GPS or LORAN knows the only time a mapped position can be navigated to is if both the receiver and map are set to the same map datum - roughly 6-13 different datums have been used over the years. Unless the users knows exactly what datum the Park's boundaries are marked with - it's basically just Russian roullet trying to match your GPS/LORAN to something printed on a map.
Anyone who has used a GPS in the Interior knows it is dramatically effected by mountains and terrain so much it can effect the receiver's ability to find a previous mark. I think Denali Park has a high mountain in it.
Before all the fancy electronics hunters relied on visual land marks. Although I am an experienced ocean and land navigator - doubtful I could determine my exact position by anything better than a half mile with or without a GPS under the circumstances of this situation. If you doubt this is true with GPS - stop on by Beaver Sports, grab a nice new GPS out of the box, load up some batteries, and write down the long/lat from the parking lot. Then check it's location on a topographical map they also carry. You'll be about 3/4 of a mile off. Next, check the datum date on the topo map and set this into the GPS - you still won't be in Beaver Sport's parking lot - but closer. Last - notice how LONG it takes you to figure out how to enter this datum date into the receiver, and, try to find this date from the Park's web site.
Bottom line. 600 feet is too small of a measure for a hunting violation in Alaska unless a known visual marker - like a fence - is readialy available for all to see. An experienced GPS user would not be surprised to encounter an error of this size in the Park, or, between different receivers, or, the same receiver while returning to a known point.
I've just been notified that King does not have a jury for this trial. I read that he had requested one but I guess that was denied. Normally this type misdemeanor offense would not have a jury. King requested a jury for some reason.
Historically, the Park service has had a real hard time getting convictions on game violations out of a jury- especially around McKinley Park when it first formed. Judges aren't swayed as easily by emotion and prejudice so I predict King will be convicted and then appeal.
His judge in this trial is named John Roberts...wouldn't it be ironic if the case ended up with another John Roberts presiding! There are a lot of issues simmering under the surface here...but they probably won't come out in this case...
If you don't know if you are suppose to hunt where you are, simple answer, don't hunt there. Now if the hunter's last name was Pilgrim how many of you would be making a fuss about this.
Yep, I'm old. I worked for NPS in the '80s (no, not the 1880s darnit). At that time normally this type of misdemeanor would not have attorneys on either side stirring up the pot. The ranger who wrote up the violation notice would present the case for the government, the defendant would make his or her case, and the magistrate would rule on it. End of issue.
I can easily see it boiling down to "Where was the moose when Mr. King pulled the trigger?"
BTW, I worked at Mesa Verde in the four-corners region. All of the park boundaries were well marked with signs and on some borders fencing, even borders that traversed some of the roughest terrain anyone would care to imagine. There was certainly some poaching in the park, but with clearly defined boundaries it was easy to make the case. A bit of work by a crew of boy scouts, low dollar seasonal rangers or a couple of folks serving public service sentences could have saved everyone a lot of time and money, or at least erased most of the questions.
Glacierwolf, your information is incorrect and about 8 years out of date.
Selective availability was turned on in 2000. SA was the system that automatically induced error into GPS navigation, for reasons that don't really apply or relate to our discussion.
That said, the error induced by SA was never +/-300 yards. At most, it was 100 meters, or 328 feet. Now, consumer grade GPS's are accurate to within 50 ft. I can do a mathematical breakdown of why it's 50 feet if you'd like, or you can accept that answer.
Your diatribe about datums and dates is also largely unrelated. Spacial positioning, using either UTM or lat/long is just that--a position in space. Those positions are not relative, they are absolute.
Admittedly, without a three-dimensional lock, (ie, receiving an accurate repeatable position descriptor) the position can move around. However, this is a user responsibility issue, not a technical one.
Also, Glacierwolf- My office is right next to beaver. If you'd like to meet, I'd be more than willing to show you how to use a GPS.
Just trying to be helpful.....
Why didn't he get a jury trial if he asked for it. Where I live (Houston, Texas), you pay an extra fee of $5 and you get a jury - even for a misdemeanor.
Seems I may have misread glacierwolf's post. While it's true that different datum sources have been used over the years, the web page that shows the data has the following to say:
<quote>
You can also view or download the following files of maps and waypoints that define the park and preserve boundary, the Denali Wilderness boundary, and the boundary or area of the former Mt. McKinley National Park. The .gpx file is in NAD 83 Datum and the Excel file is in WGS 84 Datum. Both files are in degrees/decimal minutes format.
<endquote>
http://www.nps.gov/dena/parkmgmt/park-bo...
sometimes people guess wrong, like trying to take a guess on the spread of a rack. if you dont know 100% that the bull is legal, DONT SHOOT! Hunting rules are set up to protect the sport of hunting for everyone to enjoy. the rules are not set up to be tested... thats why the punishments are so harsh. just because somebody high profile is mixed in people all the sudden get sympathetic. people need to take responsibility for their actions like it sounds Mr King did by turning in the meat, then LET IT GO and go hunting again next year, this time following the rules and respecting the boundaries that are set up. what would happen if the state started letting people get away with breaking the laws? and if you ask me, the state is actually pretty leniant if you turn in your illegal kill.
What everyone is failing to see is that King KNEW HE WAS CLOSE. Why would anyone even take a chance? your not sure where the border is, but you know your close, so dont shoot!! He did, and now its time to pay the piper. Same type of thing happens every year up on the north slope along the Haul Road with rifle hutners. They have to be five miles off the road, not 4.9, not 4.95 but 5, period. The troopers fly that area all the time with a hellicopter and look for violators, which they find.
I'm with you akhunter02. If you arent willing to bet your life on it (or your plane, guns, cabin, 4wheelers, whatever!), then dont shoot! dont hunt where you are pressing the boundaries so close. the residents of the state dont want to pay to prosecute you. admit your mistake or negligence, and move on. But above all, be responsible when you pull the trigger!
Did you know that Fish and Game uses SPY equipment...Did the board of fish and game put that in place?
buboy: What are you talking about? Provide examples, proof, or even circumstantial data.
Hell, even a definition. What does "SPY equipment" mean?
KenWoods...Fish and game was in the weeds filming three fisherman in a boat. It was a catch and release area. The fisherman did not break any game regulations. When they put their gear away to go home one of them lit a joint...BUSTED BY FISH AND GAME. Played the tape with sound in court....
All those "geniuses" and "educated people" involved in that trial and they can't even determine where the park boundaries actually are. lol
Ignorance of the law (or park boundaries) is no excuse.
buboy: Interesting. So, let me get this straight.
Three guys, not breaking the law, fishing.
Then one of them broke the law.
A law enforcement agency observed and recorded it.
What's the problem, exactly?
Are you _really_ suggesting that adherence to the law is only applicable when one has given their consent to observation while in a public space? (As you mentioned that it was a catch-and-release area, I can only assume this was not a private body of water.)
(also....a camera is now considered spy equipment? That's awesome. I'm gonna go drive around in my truck. (yes, I drove today!) I'll be a spy, just like austin powers. I am such a effin' rockstar, I tell you.)
Sybil
My tech software warns me there's a Sybil, multi id's online, to have multiple personalities in discussions?
KenWoods, I am by no means the expert that you seem to be. I was also unable to find the gps coordinates on the NPS web page. I also had to go to google as you did to find the coordinates. The biggest problem I have with these parks, and I have seen it in most of them, is that they have all these rules but they don't make it easy to know them or follow them. All they would need to do is put out a few makrers to show the boundaries. They could also put those map waypoints into "the commercially available software maps".
In additon to this, the park rangers are typically useless. They have never been able to answer one of my questions regarding things such as the boundary between the park and the preserve, what hunting regulations apply, etc.
I agree that if it is close, then don't shoot, but how is anyone to know (perhaps it will come out in testimony) how far that moose went after it was shot.
I find it hard to believe that this is a wise use of our resourses. Heck, this is hardly a good use of our time to be making all these comments.
I wonder what would have happened if Robocop was there to uphold justice! LMFAO, this is pretty ridiculous! Charge him a small fine and be done with it! I shouldn't see my hard earned tax dollars waisted on this nonsense! John Leonard is just some clown, bored with the excitement of his job, looking for his "15 minutes"!
King is hoping that he'll get off because he's a winning Iditarod musher. He's no any better than the rest of us. In other words, he doesn't deserve special considerations. King is a liar. First he claimed to use a GPS, then he said he only used a map. Or maybe King thinks we're all dopes who will buy into anything he says. The guys been hunting in the area for years. He knew the boundary. King thought he could get away with violating the law.
I think that when the park ranger can't find the boundary, they should probably think twice before holding others accountable. I would think the ranger that stopped to see him at the site should have thought, "gee this guy is right on the boundary..."
Yet again, our park rangers aren't really there to provide any service.
Wow. This seems like a minor infraction which should, if and when it is established that a trespass actually did occur, result at most in a written reprimand which is kept on record. Perhaps on the second offense, a small fine of no more than $1000 would be appropriate. But really, when things like this occur and an upstanding member of the local community is harassed by park service employees, one has to wonder whether the park is being mis-managed. The National parks should be managed for the recreational enjoyment of those tax payers to whom the parks belong. Access to the parks for use by the people should be encouraged and facilitated, not restricted and hampered until the parks are accessible only to the park employees and the very wealthy. This park is actively managed to exclude local users and to make access, even low-impact back-country travel, as difficult, regulated and out-of-reach as possible.
If I read the article correctly it says that he had a GPS with him, but he was using a map at the time. I don't see a lie in that statement. I have a GPS in my van, but that doesn't mean I use it. Maybe he just carried the GPS unit for emergencies or what ever.
120 caribou killed and left to rot outside a native village and we're arguing over 600 feet. A giant waste of taxpayers money!!!!
Story changing, GPS, no GPS, can't read a map, on and on. If you hunt right on the park boundry, and know you are right on the boundry, and have a GPS and know how to use one (that is the version I believe), then you are responsible. Jeff should have pled this one out, but he is letting ego get in the way. I know that the park has always give him a bit of special treatment, in the positive way, so this is by no means the big bad Feds picking on a poor Alaskan. By going to trial he is forcing himself (if he testifies) to lie.
Seems to me that there's a little bit more here than not simply wanting to admit to an "oops, I goofed". Has anybody that's weighing in on this blog been to this specific area before? Has anybody actually seen how well, or, for that matter, how poorly the Park boundaries are marked in that spot? It's been my experience that boundaries that are marked by line-of-sight are much tougher to delineate (in absence of well-spaced flags, signs, etc) than boundaries that follow obvious topographical features. Is this specific area easy to reach by an all-wheel-drive Argo? Putting all this together, and the fact that Mr King has hunted in this area before, it seems plausible that he honestly believes that he was/is in the right. It's taught in first year law-school case studies that a person has the right to harvest an animal on private property that they've wounded off such private property. Was anybody there to see exactly where he took that first shot? Is it possible that the first shot was taken outside of the Park, but the coup de grace was inside? I don't know about you guys, but tracking and harvesting a wounded moose 600 feet (that's 200 yards -- a Tiger Woods 5 iron, for crying out loud) inside the Park's boundary, and then having to put up with the Government's innuendos vs. my intent (and, ultimately, my reputation) is worth fighting for. "Oops, I goofed" wouldn't set right with me either, Jeff.
kenwoods have you ever been in the park have you been in the woods, why don't you go down there and then tell us all how easy and cut and dry the boundries are WITHOUT a gps system. I too have known jeff king and his family for many many yrs and I seriously doubt he would put everything he's worked so hard for on the line for some moose.
and I agree with BigDan 120 moose killed and no ones batting an eye yet a well known honest man makes a mistake and it's all over "CNN" GO FIGURE.
GOOD LUCK JEFF
GET A LIFE KENWOODS UNTIL YOU EXPERIENCE IT FIRST HAND IT'S EASY TO JUDGE FROM A COMPUTER SCREEN.
What, no update today? The Newsminer staff couldn't find anything positive to write about Jeff King to the exclusion of all other facts? Couldn't cherry pick the one or two statements that were favorable to his case out of hours of testimony today? What a surprise...I guess no news is bad news?
alaskaangel23 pull it together, man. No one killed 120 moose. If the rest of your "facts" are as accurate as that one then King is in real trouble for sure.
And who says it was a "mistake"?
"It's taught in first year law-school case studies that a person has the right to harvest an animal on private property that they've wounded off such private property."
KK, that is no longer true. State law must specifically authorize such a thing, if the private land is not otherwise open to hunting.
Of course we aren't talking about private land, now are we? Jeff King, as a "thirty year resident", should know that illegal hunting includes "to PURSUE, hunt, harass, harm, SHOOT, trap, net, capture, COLLECT, KILL, wound, or attempt to do any of the above."
It took me all of three minutes to find their map on their web site. So I agree the lawyer isn't very bright if he couldn't find it. On the other hand, the NPS web based map shows the boundary as a nearly one mile wide stripe of green border. Also, the ADF&G took twenty minutes and several mapsheets to tell me the boundaries for the white mountains caribou hunt. So the vague boundaries are a given in Alaska.
In the State's defense, the top of page 8 of the 2007-2008 Alaska Hunting regulations in big bold print says "Know who owns the land where you plan to hunt". It doesn't say guess, it doesn't say be pretty sure, it doesn't say rely on intuition or advice from others, it says "Know". If you do not know, you should not hunt, or ride that ATV.
Our regulations make hunting much harder than it should be. But they are the rules and we must abide by them until they are changed to provide better access to the benefit of all Alaskans. Otherwise, those of us following the rules to the letter will be the only ones without meat in the cooler.
Hunger Knows No Law....
flyer 5000 120 caribou were slaughtered, so I said moose big deal the point is as stands the boundries out there are not defined as well as they should be. This is over 600 ft and yeah if found guilty it will be over a honest mistake and not out of intention. when the jerks who killed 120 CARIBOU did it intentionaly.
But I am sure a man of your knowelge especially of the law would NEVER make a mistake in any situation right.
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