October 25, 2010
Three Astoria men accused of offense involving importing animal parts OSP warns about danger of spreading chronic wasting disease Bill Hunsinger of Astoria has been accused of importing illegal animal parts into Oregon.
The citation – a Class A misdemenor – is based on Western state laws designed to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease.
Hunsinger, 65, was one of three Astoria men stopped Thursday by Oregon State Police troopers west of The Dalles. All three have been cited to face criminal charges for unlawful importation of prohibited cervid parts. The others were Austin Matthew Hunsinger, 26, and Charles Kristain Kelly, 46.
Troopers said the men were found to be in possession of three bull elk from New Mexico, which is a state that has had documented cases of chronic wasting disease.
The trio was stopped by OSP Fish and Wildlife Division Trooper Joel McNerney and patrol Troopers Brent Ochesky and Gavin McIlvenna while driving a 2006 Ford pickup towing a trailer westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 76.
The troopers discovered they were in possession of the heads of three bull elk and part of a spine. These were seized by the troopers and will be destroyed, OSP said.
A spokesman said the No. 1 objective in the management of chronic wasting disease is to prevent its spread into new areas. One possible mode of disease transmission is via infected carcasses. Therefore, in an effort to minimize the risk of disease spread, a number of states, including Oregon, have adopted regulations affecting the transportation of hunter-harvested deer and elk.
OSP and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife would like to remind all hunters that except for the following parts, no person shall import a cervid carcass or parts of a cervid carcass if the cervid was killed in a state or province with a documented case of chronic wasting disease.
• Meat that is cut and wrapped commercially or privately;
• Meat that has been boned out;
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached;
• Hides and/or capes with no head attached;
• Skull plates with antlers attached that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue (velvet antlers are allowed);
• Antler with no tissue attached (velvet antlers are allowed);
• Upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories);
• Finished taxidermy heads.
States or provinces with a documented case of chronic wasting disease are Alberta, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Utah and Saskatchewan.