Conservation officers deal with illegal hunting by Jen Zimmerman
Many Merrittonians are not following the rules when it comes to hunting, gaming and shooting permits.
Since Oct. 16, the Conservation Office Service has been informed of several illegal killings and dumpings of moose and bears. On Oct. 22 two illegal killings of cow moose occurred. The first carcass was found intact and left on Selish Creek Road and the second carcass was found near the Boulder FSR site with its hindquarters missing.
Since Oct. 16, the Conservation Office Service has been informed of several illegal killings and dumpings of moose and bears. On Oct. 22 two illegal killings of cow moose occurred. The first carcass was found intact and left on Selish Creek Road and the second carcass was found near the Boulder FSR site with its hindquarters missing.
Two bears with their heads and paws removed where found along Nicola
Lake and Highway 5A near Sagebrush Road between Oct. 16 and Oct. 23.
An additional bear carcass with its paws removed was discovered on Jack
Swartz Road on Nov. 5. On Nov. 8 another cow moose carcass with its hindquarters missing was
found on Stump Lake Road. Every year the conservation office deals with illegal animal killings.
“It’s time consuming and exhausting on the limited number of officers
that we have working in the department,” said Paul Pike, conservation officer
for the TNRD. To minimize the number of illegal killings, Pike and fellow officers do
regular patrols of the bush and reported areas of killings. Another way the conservation office tries to curb illegal killings is by setting up decoy operations. The conservation office will set up a fake decoy
animal that is not in season and see if it will attract any would-be illegal hunters. “Arrests from decoy hunting account for approximately five to ten per cent of illegal hunting crimes,” Pike said.
If a person does shoot at the decoy, they will be charged. Charges for illegal shootings range from $345 to $1000,000 fines to court appearances, potentially resulting in up to a year in jail. Those charged in court, would be
charged under the Wildlife Act of Canada and could be charged with a number of crimes such as hunting out of season and possession of illegal dead wildlife. The conservation office is not against hunting, but officers want
citizens to be responsible hunters, said Pike. This means not hunting out of season or hunting illegal animals.
Pike said responsible hunters must always have a valid permit to hunt, which can be obtained from local vendors in their hometown after the successful completion of the CORE (conservation outdoor recreation education) program. Once a person has completed a CORE course, they will be given a B.C. resident hunter number, which will allow them to obtain an annual hunting license.
Pike said the conservation office is concerned with this recent string
of illegal animal killings and is urging any citizens who have information about
the killings to call RAPP (Reporting All Poachers and Polluters) at
1-877-952-7277.
Lake and Highway 5A near Sagebrush Road between Oct. 16 and Oct. 23.
An additional bear carcass with its paws removed was discovered on Jack
Swartz Road on Nov. 5. On Nov. 8 another cow moose carcass with its hindquarters missing was
found on Stump Lake Road. Every year the conservation office deals with illegal animal killings.
“It’s time consuming and exhausting on the limited number of officers
that we have working in the department,” said Paul Pike, conservation officer
for the TNRD. To minimize the number of illegal killings, Pike and fellow officers do
regular patrols of the bush and reported areas of killings. Another way the conservation office tries to curb illegal killings is by setting up decoy operations. The conservation office will set up a fake decoy
animal that is not in season and see if it will attract any would-be illegal hunters. “Arrests from decoy hunting account for approximately five to ten per cent of illegal hunting crimes,” Pike said.
If a person does shoot at the decoy, they will be charged. Charges for illegal shootings range from $345 to $1000,000 fines to court appearances, potentially resulting in up to a year in jail. Those charged in court, would be
charged under the Wildlife Act of Canada and could be charged with a number of crimes such as hunting out of season and possession of illegal dead wildlife. The conservation office is not against hunting, but officers want
citizens to be responsible hunters, said Pike. This means not hunting out of season or hunting illegal animals.
Pike said responsible hunters must always have a valid permit to hunt, which can be obtained from local vendors in their hometown after the successful completion of the CORE (conservation outdoor recreation education) program. Once a person has completed a CORE course, they will be given a B.C. resident hunter number, which will allow them to obtain an annual hunting license.
Pike said the conservation office is concerned with this recent string
of illegal animal killings and is urging any citizens who have information about
the killings to call RAPP (Reporting All Poachers and Polluters) at
1-877-952-7277.