Outfitting Guide and Two American Hunters Fined $9,800 for Illegal Hunting

Released on June 23, 2016

A Kamsack resident pleaded guilty to guiding without a licence and was fined $7,000 in North Battleford Provincial Court on June 8, and the two American hunters he was escorting were fined $1,400 each.

While on patrol in November 2015, conservation officers stopped a hunting guide and his two clients in the Grand Cheviot Pasture, located north of Paynton.  In the course of their compliance check, officers discovered that the parties were in violation of Saskatchewan hunting laws and regulations.

The hunting guide was only authorized to provide guiding services on Mosquito First Nation reserve land and the American hunters produced deer licences that were only valid on First Nations reserve land.  The nearest Mosquito First Nation land was more than 70 kilometres away.

George Keewatin, aged 31, was fined $7,000 for illegally guiding without a licence under The Outfitter and Guide Regulations.  Each of the American hunters paid a voluntary fine of $1,400 for illegally hunting without a licence under The Wildlife Act and received a one year hunting suspension.

“Outfitting and guiding in unauthorized areas is a serious issue,” Ministry of Environment’s Chief of Enforcement and Investigations Ken Aube said.  “This type of activity hinders other outfitters who are following the rules.  Our laws to manage outfitting, outfitter allocations and areas are designed to provide effective management of wildlife populations to ensure hunting opportunities are available now and into the future.”

Ministry of Environment conservation officers help protect the province’s environment and our rich natural resources by ensuring everyone understands and complies with the laws in Saskatchewan through education, prevention and enforcement.

If you suspect wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations, please call your local Ministry of Environment office, Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn in Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for Sasktel cellular subscribers, or report a violation online at www.saskatchewan.ca/conservation.  You may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip Reward Program.

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For more information, contact:

Ron Podbielski
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6595
Email: ron.podbielski@gov.sk.ca