On October 17, 2008, DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (DEC) charged two men with killing a moose in the Adirondack Town of Keene, Essex County. DEC Dispatch received a report of a moose being shot earlier in the day.

An investigation by Environmental Conservation Officer John Blades and Environmental Conservation Investigator Ken Bruno lead to Burton H. Smith, 40, of Keene, NY, and Kelly L. Reyell, 40, of Ausable Forks, NY, each being charged with a misdemeanor illegal taking of a moose.

They were issued tickets requiring them to appear on October 27, 2008, in the Town of Keene Local Criminal Court. The men each face possible penalties of fines up to $2000 and one year in jail.

DEC estimates that New York has a population of approximately 500 moose in the Adirondacks and surrounding areas. Over the past couple decades the moose population has mainly increased through moose entering the state from Vermont and Canada. Now the increase in population is mainly due to the birth of moose calves here in New York.

The number of moose in the Adirondacks continue to rise. However, there currently is no hunting season for moose in New York and the population is years away from reaching levels that will not be affected by legal hunting.

Fall is the breeding season for moose in northern New York. During this time moose are wandering looking for mates, leading them to areas where they are not typically seen.

More information on moose can be found on the DEC web site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6964.html