Craig lodge owner charged in large-scale Alaska bear poaching ring

December 10th, 2006

Craig, Alaska - Sunnahae Lodge and Shoreline Charters owner, Christopher Palle, has been charged with running a large-scale illegal black bear poaching operation.

Sunnahae Lodge and Shoreline Charters owner, Christopher Palle, has been charged with running a large-scale illegal black bear poaching operation.

Two of Palle's employees were also caught and charged with 38 misdemeanor counts for all involved.

During further investigation by Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement State Troopers between April 26th and November 2nd 2006, the investigation revealed that vessels and employees of Shoreline Charters and the Sunnahae Lodge were taking black bear hunters into the field and remaining with clients while actively looking and hunting for black bears. Shoreline charters has a transporter license that only allows them to provided transportation services to from and in the field. The investigation reveled that employees of Shoreline Charters remained in the field with paying clients while they actively searched for black bears while driving slowly in boats along the beaches near Craig Alaska.

According to the Troopers, transporters then waited in the area and watched from the boats while their clients stalked and shot their bears. After the clients shot their bears the employees stayed in the area and waited for the hunters to bring the bears to the beach. Investigation further revealed that Chris Palle and his transporter employees provided hunting blinds to their paying clients to hunt for black bears while they were in the field and failed to fill out and complete several transporter activity reports.

Alaska State Troopers, Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement announced this week they have charged 38 misdemeanor counts to Shoreline Charters and it's employees. Named in the charges are, Christopher Erik Palle 32 years of age of Salt lake City, Utah, owner and operator of Shoreline Charters and employees, Michael Stewart Krieger 41 years of age of Ketchikan, Duane Donald James JR 29 years of age of Craig, and Ralph James Wolfe 24 years of age of Craig.

Chris Palle, owner and operator of Shoreline Charters, has been charged with 18 counts, 16 counts of aiding in the commission of a violation of State guiding law, 2 counts of violations of transporter activity reports.

Mike Krieger of Ketchikan has been charged with 10 counts, 1 count of aiding in the commission of a violation of state guiding law, 3 counts of outfitting big game hunters without a license, 5 counts of transporter remaining in the field with paying big game hunting clients and 1 count of transporter activity report violations.

Donald Duane James of Craig has been charged with 8 misdemeanor counts, 2 count of aiding in the commission of a violation of state Guiding law, 2 counts of outfitting big game hunters without a license, 3 counts of transporter remaining in the field with paying big game hunting clients and 1 count of transporter activity report violations.

Ralph Wolfe of Craig has been charged with 2 misdemeanor counts, 1 counts of transporter remaining in the field with paying big game hunting clients, and 1 count of transporter activity report violations.