Two men in Manitoba face charges after conservation officers accused them of wasting elk meat.

Manitoba Conservation says officers in the RM of Boissevain-Morton received reports of two men following a herd of elk in their truck through multiple properties on Dec. 11.

When the men were apprehended, they were reportedly field-dressing one elk, and claimed they'd only killed one, but another was located.

Officials allege no attempt had been made to retrieve or search for the second elk.

The men are both charged with hunting on private land without permission; failing to retrieve a killed or injured big game animal; and abandoning, wasting, and spoiling edible portions of a big game animal.