57-Year-Old Wasilla Man Pleads Guilty To Illegally Taken Moose In Unit 13E

Super Cub Forfeited To State Of Alaska 

Alaska Department of Fish & Game 

Type: Wildlife Investigation

Dispatch Text:

On 02/16/2023, Thomas Hudzinski, age 57, of Wasilla, pleaded guilty to one count of Same-day Airborne in a Rule 11 agreement in Palmer Superior Court.

As part of the plea agreement, Hudzinski was fined $8,000 with $5500 suspended. His plane, a 2015 Backcountry Super Cub- Super Cruiser, was forfeited to the State of Alaska. The moose meat, antlers, and Hudzinski's rifle, a .375 bolt action rifle and scope, were also forfeited. All other property seized in the investigation was returned. The judgment ordered the revocation of Hudzinski's hunting license for one year with two years of probation to obey all state and federal hunting and fishing statutes and regulations. All other charges, including felony tampering with evidence and unlawful possession/transportation of big game, were dismissed.

On 03/02/2022, the co-defendant Richard Voights, age 54, of Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of Same-Day Airborne in a Rule 11 agreement in Palmer District Court for his role in the 2020 hunt with Hudzinski. The other counts of taking moose closed season, appropriate non-resident license and tags, and unlawful possession/transportation of big game were dismissed. Voights was fined $8,000 with $5,000 suspended. In addition, his hunting license was revoked for one year, and he was placed on probation until 03/02/2025.

Hudzinski and Voights must split the restitution in the amount of $1,000 for the illegally taken moose.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers initiated an investigation after receiving a tip from hunters in the field who witnessed the wildlife crime. Alaska State and Wildlife Troopers from Fairbanks and Cantwell responded in a state helicopter to the southwest region of GMU13E, where they contacted the hunters in the field with the moose.

With assistance from the Wildlife Investigations Unit, subsequent investigation revealed that after flying to the area and landing, Voights, accompanied by Hudzinski, ultimately harvested a bull moose. Voights had neither a hunting license nor a non-resident bull moose draw permit. GMU 13E is open to moose hunting for non-residents by draw only.