Three Central Albertans face numerous poaching charges for hunting elk at night west of Rimbey.
One 17-year-old youth from Rimbey and two adults from Alhambra face 14 charges under the Wildlife, Traffic Safety and Liquor acts.
Rimbey RCMP responded after a person contacted the police on Sunday at about 9:30 p.m. to a report of a suspicious truck driving on Leedale Road near Hwy 766 without any headlights on.
Shortly after, police stopped a truck driving on Leedale Road, where elk could be seen in the field by moonlight.
When an officer approached the vehicle, he saw the front passenger holding a spotlight with a loaded rifle in his possession.
The driver and back passenger also had loaded high-powered rifles. Police allege all occupants of the vehicle had been drinking.
Police investigation later found the driver had allegedly shot at a bull elk from the roadway with a scoped rifle.
The shooting allegedly occurred near a residence at night while the passenger use a spotlight so the shooter could see the elk better.
RCMP did not know whether the bull elk was wounded. Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers were nearby and assisted the police in the investigation.
Police seized the truck, as well as the three rifles.
The driver had his licence suspended for 30 days.
According to the RCMP, these offences took place only 1.6 km from where two large bull moose were shot and left to rot last November. Only their antlers were taken. That case remains unsolved.
Charges against the three include hunting in a dangerous manner, hunting at night, discharging a firearm from a roadway, hunting while impaired and hunting on occupied land without permission.
Police have not yet identified the two adults.
The RCMP reminds those allegedly involved in criminal activity that any objects used to commit a crime will be seized as offence-related property.
Rimbey Mounties and Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers are working in partnership to put an end to frequent poaching in the area.
Officers have approached landowners and asked them to immediately call police or Report a Poacher at 1-800-642-3800 to report suspicious persons or vehicles.