The ministry of environment says a Gronlid man has entered a guilty plea for his role in illegal wildlife trafficking.

The investigation began in 2014, when conservation officers were told a man was buying and selling wild elk, moose and deer antlers without Sale of Wildlife permits in place.

Officers followed up on the tip, and over the course of the five-year investigation, the suspect purchased antlers from undercover conservation officers on numerous occasions.

In November of 2018, officers executed a search warrant at the Gronlid residence, and located over 300 sets of antlers, plus another 19 sets of horns, including five from African species. Officers also seized several firearms that were not stored safely, including two loaded weapons.

64 year-old Randall Wehrkamp pleaded guilty to five charges, including possession of wildlife for the purpose of trafficking and unsafe storage of a firearm.

Wehrkamp has been fined $36,500 in fines and a five year hunting suspension.