Yukon officials together with the United States National Park Service and Alaska Wildlife Troopers with the forfeited sheep horns | Gov. of Yukon
In August 2022, what was supposed to be the "hunt of a lifetime" in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias country turned into an international wildlife violation. Now, years later, the case has reached its complicated conclusion, complete with penalties on both sides of the border and a reminder of how seriously authorities take illegal harvests of iconic species like Dall sheep.
Back in 2022, court docs stated that Kenneth Eberle of Florida, his son Nathan Eberle of Alaska, and Justin Nagel (Nathan’s college friend) flew by air taxi from Tok to High Culvert Camp inside Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. On August 11th, the trio hiked roughly 1.5 miles east of camp and managed to spot a pair of Dall sheep rams.
Reports indicated that two men then pulled the trigger on the animals, leaving one dead and another injured from a shot to the hindquarter. As the hunters closed in on their prey, they accidentally crossed into Yukon, Canada—where none held permits or were accompanied by a required guide. Justin Nagel then approached the wounded ram, now on Canadian soil, and finished the job.
While spirits were undoubtedly high, the three men had unknowingly committed a pretty hefty wildlife crime. In what their lawyers called an ‘unusual and very unfortunate’ event, the Eberles and Nagel were met at base camp in Tok, Alaska by U.S. National Park Service officers upon their arrival. There, officers immediately seized the sheep parts, comms devices and all firearms from the three men.
After being tipped off about the accidental border crossing, Yukon conservation officers flew into the kill site and recovered approximately 18 pounds of meat from one sheep and 11 pounds from the other, which included one full quarter and portions of neck, rib, shank and brisket. Officers also noted that some of the meat remained, but was not ‘recoverable’ because it was bloodshot.
In December 2024, all three pleaded guilty in Yukon Territorial Court to unlawful harvest of two thinhorn sheep rams. For their actions, each received a $10,000 CAD fine (directed to the Turn in Poachers and Polluters Fund), a hunting prohibition in the territory until fines were paid, and forfeiture of seized items. The Eberles faced additional $3,500 fines each for meat wastage.
The fines totaled around $37,000 CAD, all of which was reinvested in conservation and anti-poaching efforts.
Following the Canadian proceedings, the men pleaded guilty in March 2025 in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. During that court session, each was sentenced to five years of probation, a $5,000 fine, forfeiture of firearms and the sheep trophies, and joint responsibility for $58,200 in restitution to the Government of Yukon (recently confirmed to have been paid in full).
“This investigation reflects the strength of long-standing partnerships dedicated to protecting wildlife and upholding the law,” said Deb Flowers, National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Chief. “I commend the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve team, as well as the ISB Special Agents for their outstanding collaboration with Yukon Conservation Officer Services, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and our federal partners to bring this complex cross-border case to a successful conclusion.”
Now nearly four years later and with legal proceedings complete, the forfeited sheep horns have finally returned to the Government of Yukon. One set will now support wildlife education in the Canadian territory, and the other was donated to the National Park Service. Meat from the animals was provided to the White River First Nation, and proceeds from the sale of the capes will fund further conservation work.
“Obviously, it was memorable at the beginning,” Nathan Eberle’s lawyer, Michel Fontaine said. “And it ends as rather memorable for his involvement in the court of the law with his father and his best friend, so he'll never forget this.”
