Three Lake Country men were found guilty of poaching four moose in provincial court on Thursday.
According to the BC Conservation Office Service, the men received a combined $11,000 in fines related to the two separate poaching incidents.
The first incident occurred in Vernon in 2017, where one man shot and killed two bull moose illegally, using his friend’s species tag to try to cover it up.
As a result, he received $3,500 in fines for exceeding his bag limit and using another person’s tag.
The friend was also fined $2,000 for his involvement.
Three men received a combined $11, 000 in fines in #Kelowna court today, related to the poaching of 4 moose in 2 incidents of what is commonly known as ‘party hunting.’
— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) April 9, 2021
The #BCCOS hopes these fines will help deter others from this unlawful activity: https://t.co/4IU62Rvrax pic.twitter.com/aGXY2TcebD
In a separate case in Revelstoke in 2019, the same man poached another two bull moose, and once again used another friend’s species tag in efforts to hide the offence.
He was fined an additional $3,500, for a total of $7,000, while his friend received a $2,000 fine.
The man who killed all four moose is also banned from hunting for two years and the other two men received one-year hunting prohibitions.
All three have also been ordered to retake the hunter education program (CORE).
"Poaching is a reckless activity with a blatant disregard for public safety and wildlife," said the BCCOS in a statement.
"The Conservation Officer Service hopes these fines will help deter others from this unlawful activity."
Anyone who has information regarding violations can report them the BCCOS's toll-free rapp line 1-877-952-7277.
