When we heard about a moose that was poached in Byron, we weren’t optimistic about state game wardens identifying a suspect. Now, two people have been charged.

The odds seemed stacked against the wardens. The moose was found by a hunter Dec. 1 on West Branch Road. One of the 600-pound animal’s antlers had been sawed off and meat, about 70 pounds, was taken from the flank. Wardens executed a search warrant Sunday morning in Dixfield after an anonymous tip provided them with details of the crime. During the search, wardens seized several pounds of moose meat and frozen fish.

Moose meat, alone, might not be enough for a conviction on charges related to the dead moose. Successful prosecution of could hinge upon DNA testing of the moose and meat taken from the suspects’ freezer.

We have no sympathy for moose poachers. While legitimate hunters enter the moose lottery and hope for the best – and are often disappointed – poachers put themselves above the law and their fellow hunters. They do damage to the state’s wildlife management practices, and put other people in harm’s way because surreptitious hunting means taking chances. The Byron moose was found on the road near where it was shot. A hurried hunter, fearful of witnesses, takes chances that could put others at risk.

A successful prosecution won’t put the bullet that killed the moose back in the gun, but it could act as a deterrent for others with similar designs. A few days and jail and a $1,000 fine is a high price for moose meat.