Poaching bighorn rams nets licence suspension for 5 Alberta hunters

Five Alberta men have had their hunting licencessuspended for a year after pleading guilty to illegally killing fourbighorn rams.

They appeared in a provincial court in Hinton this week, about285 kilometres west of Edmonton.

The investigation began more than two years ago after a complaintalleging trespassing and hunting in the area of a reclaimed minesite that's been closed to huntingfor 30 years.

Authorities used DNA samples taken the bighorn rams to provetheir case after the suspects initially denied shooting the trophyanimals.

Alberta wildlife officials say all four rams, including the headand meat, were left to spoil.