Several hunters fined by conservation officers

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This article was published 22/10/2022 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A hunter who dangerously fired a gun across a provincial highway — and proved a lousy shot when he missed the moose he’d fired at — is one among numerous hunters charged by conservation officers for recent offences.

On Aug. 28, Saskatchewan conservation officers spotted a suspicious vehicle moving along the Manitoba-Saskatchewan boundary. Later, police saw people from the vehicle shoot two moose while in Manitoba, within a moose conservation closure area, which is illegal.

As a result, four people from Saskatchewan will appear in Manitoba court at a later date, and a $12,000 restitution notice was issued by officers at the scene. A rifle, hunting equipment and a deceased cow and calf moose were seized.

On Sept. 3, Ashern conservation officers and members of the special investigations unit apprehended two people for illegally fishing with gill nets in Lake Manitoba. They were charged with fishing without a licence and unlawful possession of fish caught without a licence. A $3,108 restitution notice was issued, and a boar, outboard motor and fishing gear were seized. Also seized were two gill nets, 74 walleye and one quillback.

On Sept. 18 Brandon conservation officers were on night-hunting patrol, assisted by aircraft. They observed a slow-moving vehicle in the Carberry area in which the occupants were using a spotlight to light fields. Four people were charged for illegally hunting at night and hunting on private land without permission. The penalty will be determined in court. The vehicle, a gun, a spotlight and other hunting equipment was seized.

On Oct. 3, Dauphin officers got a tip about a bull moose along Provincial Trunk Highway 5. In the area, Conservation officers found a person dressed in camouflage while hunting moose from an all-terrain vehicle. The suspect had fired three shots at a moose on the opposite side of the highway, but missed. The hunter was charged with discharging a firearm so the projectile crosses a provincial road, and given fines totalling $672.

A short time later and only 1.5 kilometres away from the last incident, officers arrested a person for hunting on private land without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife, with fines totalling $1,782 and a $2,500 restitution notice. A gun and moose were seized.

Finally, on Oct. 16, conservation officers were patrolling in the Roblin area when they saw a slow-moving vehicle travelling nearby and heard a rifle shot shortly after. Officers stopped the vehicle and found that the driver had shot at two deer in a field while standing on a provincial road. The driver was charged with that offence and fined $672. Their gun was seized, too.

» The Brandon Sun