Sitka man, 49-year-old Patrick Hughes was issued a summons to appear in court for a brown bear kill he made in defense of life and property on October 11, 2009 in Katlian Bay.

The authorities were alerted of the violation through a Wildlife Safeguard Complaint.

It wasn’t the kill that landed Hughes in hot water with Alaska Wildlife Troopers, but what he did afterwards.

According to the trooper dispatch released on Sunday, Hughes shot the bear in defense of his life in 2009, but Hughes would later get a Brown Bear tag and permit soon after then lied about the circumstances of the kill as well as when it was shot. He did so, in order to keep the bear.

According to Alaska regulations, any bear shot in defense of life and property becomes state property and must be turned over to state authorities.

Hughes was charged with Failure to Report a Defense of Life and Property kill, Unsworn Falsification II x2, and Unlawful Possession. Hughes has a mandatory court appearnce in Sitka court.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers stated that persons can file anonymous tips on illegal hunting and fishing to the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Safeguard hotline at 1-800-478-3377.