Yellowknife (Dec 22/04) - Wildlife officers are on the lookout for hunters who wasted meat from 19 caribou carcasses found last week on or near Duckfish Lake, about 15 kilometres north of Yellowknife.

Senior wildlife officer Raymond Bourget, with Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development, said it's the worst case of meat wastage he's seen this year.

"Most hunters around Yellowknife are generally conscientious, but it seems that when you get a lot of caribou around, you get some people that just take the parts that they want, and leave the rest," said Bourget.

On Dec. 12, a hunter made a complaint to the department after finding 16 caribou with the legs and backstrap removed but the ribs and necks left behind.

The NWT Wildlife Act states that all caribou parts must be harvested, with the exception of the head, hooves, internal organs, and meat damaged by gunshot.

The maximum penalty is a year in jail or $1,000 for each wasted animal.

On Dec. 15, wildlife officers discovered another three caribou on a small lake south of Duckfish, where only the legs were taken.

It's believed all the kills occurred within a day or two after being discovered.

Bourget said he suspects six to eight persons were involved in the Dec. 12 hunt, adding that other hunters witnessed several people on snowmobiles heading into the area.

"We just know there were people hunting up in that area, seen by other hunters," said Bourget.

"That's all we know at this point. We don't know who they are."

Bourget said the Dec. 15 kill is likely the work of someone else.

The hunting site lies in the path of a well-used snowmobile trail that begins in town at Long Lake, then weaves its way through Martin, Landing and Vital Lakes, before reaching Duckfish Lake.