Three Battlefords-area men have been fined $5,880 for unlawfully hunting elk in the Biggar area.
Lawrence Lee Meechance, Neal Meechance and Gerald Meechance, all of Red Pheasant First Nation, are guilty of one count each of unlawful hunting under the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act and Regulations.
The case came up in provincial court in North Battleford this week.
It turns out tips from the public played a key role. According to the provincial Ministry of Environment, charges stem from a call to their North Battleford field office in October 2013.
Conservation officers investigated, and found the individuals had unlawfully shot an elk on private fenced land. The men were located on the scene with the animal and were charged soon after.
In a statement, the ministry’s compliance and enforcement director Ken Aube made known the importance of help from the public.
“The assistance of the public is invaluable as we work to protect and preserve Saskatchewan’s natural resources,” Aube said.
“Respect for the province’s hunting laws is an important component of effective wildlife management and I’m confident that the penalties in this case will help deter others from this type of illegal activity.”
