Three arrested with calf moose shot in Kingfield

KINGFIELD — Three men were arrested Thursday night on charges of killing a young moose off the West Kingfield Road, said Sgt. Steven Lowell of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

Jay Hinkley, 44, of Kingfield, his nephew Jaret Hinkley Jr., 22, of Stratton and Richard Bishop, 40, of Kingfield were arrested by Maine Warden Service office Chris McCabe, county Lt. Niles Yeaton said. Each was charged with night hunting and hunting/possession a moose out of season, according to the Franklin County Detention Center booking log.

Yeaton said Franklin County Sgt. Steven Lowell and Deputy Kenneth Charles responded to a report of gunshots heard in an area off West Kingfield Road. They went to the area to back up Warden McCabe and waited about 30 minutes until the three men emerged from the woods with the moose in the back of a pickup truck.

He said the moose appeared to be a calf about 2 years old.

The incident is under investigation, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife spokeswoman Deborah Turcotte said.

The Hinkleys and Bishop were released on $3,000 unsecured bail and have a court date scheduled for Oct. 15.

abryant@sunjournal.com