An Arnold Missouri man, 58-year-old Ilya Kovalenko was formally charged last week with the assistance of the Missouri Department of Conservation and Wildlife troopers out of Palmer for a half a dozen charges that were related to Falsification of Hunting and Fishing Licenses and illegally harvesting Salmon and a Black Bear.

Troopers were contacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in North Dakota in mid June after Kovalenko was intercepted as he was crossing the border there from Canada. Kovalenko and another man were attempting to bring a Black Bear and 40 whole salmon, as well as other items across the border.

The call from officials in North Dakota spurred an investigation into Kovalenko. The investigation revealed that in May of this year Kovalenko traveled to Alaska from Missouri and purchased residential hunting and fishing licenses and a King Salmon tag while not being a resident of the state of Alaska.

Then using the hunting license, Kovalenko would illegally harvest a Black Bear without possessing the non-resident locking tag or Black Bear Harvest tag.

Then in early June, troopers state, that Kovalenko obtained a Copper River Personal Use Dipnet permit without being a resident and harvested 40 Red Salmon and a King Salmon from the river.

After his trip to Alaska, Kovalenko transported the Black Bear hide from the state without sealing the bear with ADF&G.

Kovalenko is due to be arraigned on the charges on September 18th in Palmer District Court.

  Alaska, black bear, canada, dipnetting, ilya kovalenko, missouri, north dakota, salmon, transport, violations, wildlife