Canada: 2 men handed $3K fines, hunting bans for illegal deer killing in BC Interior

2 men handed $3K fines, hunting bans for illegal deer killing in BC Interior (kelownanow.com)

4/09/2024

Two men have been handed hefty fines and hunting prohibitions for a hunting incident that took place in November 2022.

According to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BC COS), officers in Williams Lake conducted a “decoy hunting operation” on private property outside of the town in response to complaints and concern about alleged trespassing and illegal hunting.

Two men were subsequently arrested for shooting the decoy animal from a maintained roadway and from inside a vehicle, says the COS.

Conservation officers also found a mule deer in the back of the vehicle that had been killed that morning. Further investigation determined the animal had been killed on private property.

One firearm was seized during the investigation and later forfeited.

Matthew Marianne pled guilty to hunting without consideration for the lives and safety of others and discharging a firearm form a vehicle on Feb. 14, 2024, says the BC COS.

He was fined $3,000, ordered to pay a $450 victim surcharge and handed a three-year hunting ban unless being directly supervised and in the presence of a pre-approved person.

On Mar. 20, 2024, Darcy William pled guilty to the same charges and for possession of a firearm while prohibited, the BC COS says.

He was issued a six-month conditional sentence, a $3,000 fine and ordered to play a $450 victim surcharge..

Additionally, he also received a three-year hunting ban outside of “traditional territory” and the firearms prohibition was extended to “lifetime,” the COS explains.