Abandoned moose meat at two separate locations are likely from the same bull moose, says conservation officer Ken Knutson.

The Department of Environment is asking for any assistance the public can provide in the investigation.

Knutson said the first report of two front quarters and more left in a gravel pit three kilometres up the South Canol Road from the Alaska Highway came last Friday through the Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) Hotline.

A second call through the TIP line on Monday reported two abandoned hind quarters still attached to the rib cage located in the snow dump area off Robert Service Way, he explained today.

Knutson said it's obvious the moose was butchered by somebody who knew what they were doing. It's also obvious it was hung, as pink rope used for hanging was still attached to the quarters, he added.

Judging by the size of the quarters that had to be handled, the conservation officer pointed out, it's likely there was more than one person involved in moving the meat around.

Knutson said the meat could not be salvaged as it had already spoiled by the time it was recovered.

"We are fairly confident it is a bull but there is no head, or hide or testicles, but if it was a cow I would be quite surprised.”

The high amount of fat content suggests the animal was likely shot in late August or earlier this month, before the beginning of the rut when moose burn up a significant portion of their fat, he explained.

"We are convinced it was from the same moose,” he said of the large amounts of meat found at the two locations

"They were tied up with the same rope and it was probably dumped around the same time ... but why it was dumped so far apart, I have no idea.”

Knutson doesn't think the meat had been long at either location.

When the tipster reported the South Canol site last Friday, he or she indicated the presence of the two front quarters, the neck, the four hooves, a bag containing the hide from two flanks, a package of wrapped meat,

and a green trap, he explained.

Knutson said when the investigating conservation officer arrived at the site last Saturday, the hooves were gone and so was the package of wrapped meat, and there was evidence of scavenging by ravens, a fox and a wolf.

It's likely the meat was not there for much longer than a couple of days, otherwise more of it would have been scavenged or hauled away, he said.

Knutson said the department is encouraging anyone with any information to call the conservation officers or the TIP hotline (1-800-661-0525). Tipsters can remain anonymous, and there are financial rewards for information received.

As a matter of fact, said the CO, he'd like to hear from whoever dumped the meat to find out why they abandoned it when it appears the moose was gutted, butchered and handled correctly at the beginning.