AMERICAN HUNTER FINED FOR UNLAWFUL HUNTING

An American hunter pleaded guilty to four charges under the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act and Regulations and was fined $7,139 in provincial court in Swift Current.

David Hamby of Townville, South Carolina was convicted of two counts of unlawfully purchasing a Canadian resident deer license, unlawfully using another person's license and unlawfully exporting wildlife without an export permit. In addition to the fines, he was suspended from hunting for one
year and seized items were ordered forfeited to the crown.

The charges were laid as the result of an investigation by the Ministry of Environment. Conservation officers determined that the hunter had unlawfully purchased Canadian resident white-tailed deer licences in 2009 and 2010 and had harvested a deer with each licence in southern Saskatchewan.

The 2009 deer was illegally exported without a licence and the 2010 deer was unlawfully tagged using a Saskatchewan resident deer licence.

"People who kill animals illegally are stealing from the law-abiding hunters of our province," Ministry of Environment Compliance and Enforcement Director Ken Aube said. "Our laws are designed to provide effective management of wildlife populations to ensure hunting opportunities are available now and in the future."

Anyone who is aware of or who suspects wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the province's toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards through the SASKTIP Reward Program.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Jeanette Krayetski
Environment
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-953-2691
Email: Jeanette.Krayetski@gov.sk.ca