Poachers- CONVICTED

[BCWF]

CONVICTED

$6000 in Fines

2 Year Hunting Prohibition

Rifle Forfeited

2016-01-11 - Two males from Canal Flats were convicted of several BC Wildlife Act offences in Invermere Provincial Court.

The conviction follows a COS investigation into the illegal killing of a cow elk near Canal Flats on March 16th, 2015.

The elk was shot well after dark, using headlights from a vehicle. The elk was shot 30 metres from the road and within 80 metres of nearby houses. Justin GERTNER and Corey KOPP of Canal Flats were convicted of the following offences:

1. Hunt wildlife not within the open season.
2. Hunt without reasonable consideration for the lives, safety or property of other persons.
3. Discharge a firearm on or across the travelled portion of a highway.

Upon conviction, each male was ordered to pay a total of $3000 in fines and were given 2 year hunting prohibitions. A rifle seized by CO's was ordered forfeited.

Report poaching and other environmental violations 24/7 to the COS hotline - 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).

[one-shot-wonder]

Let off to easy once again........

[Kopper]

Not only poaching but obviously have little regard for others well being, dinks. Thumbs up to the boys (or girls) in blue.

[MB_Boy]

Let off to easy once again........

Agree 100% !!!!

[Doostien]

Let off to easy once again........

Fines should have been $6000 a piece. I sort of doubt a hunting prohibition would mean much to a poacher. If they did it once....

[NorthShoreX]

Not much of a punishment.

[guest]

Two different Laws in this country.

Pathetic really.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I think the fines where Ok but i would like to see a 10 year hunting & firearm BAN ! jmo RJ

[BiG Boar]

Justin is on Facebook. Tell him how you feel.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Justin is on Facebook. Tell him how you feel.

You know him :?:

[itsy bitsy xj]

With this on their record it may affect them when they go to renew their PALs

[Sofa King]

they each had 3 seperate charges against them.
and they each got fined $3000.
so all they got for each charge was $1000??
that's pretty soft.

[russm]

Thats a pretty weak conviction, a couple buddies of mine got 5 year firearms bans for accidentally target shooting in a shotgun only area, and they werent even poaching anything just target shooting.

[LBM]

Don't think the fine was enough either.

[guntech]

You guys have more money than me... $3000 would hurt... but not as much a the shame..

[hillman]

Unfortunately justice doesn't come cheap. I see the final tally for the Stanley cup riots is said to include $3.8 million in damages + $5 million in prosecution costs. Likely a lot costs/losses were not included.

I gather 293 people charged cost $17,000+ each to prosecute. I doubt the fines cover the cost of prosecution in either the riots or poaching case. I hope they double-downed on the shame at least.

[GOLDEN TOP SNIPER]

I like the fact that, they were in Fact, caught ,With enough evidence to get them into a court room with it . , Someone most likley dropped a dime on them . as far as the penalities , i think they were a little weak . but that they got something is a good thing . They could have got away with it scott free if they were a little smarter and got nothing . its harder to convict in court than you think . SO . lets hope someone learns something from it .

[tikkatac]

Thats a pretty weak conviction, a couple buddies of mine got 5 year firearms bans for accidentally target shooting in a shotgun only area, and they werent even poaching anything just target shooting.

Would that have been a federal violation or is that a provincial regulation?

Perhaps federal law has a min fine/ban for certain offences?

[itsy bitsy xj]

Thats a pretty weak conviction, a couple buddies of mine got 5 year firearms bans for accidentally target shooting in a shotgun only area, and they werent even poaching anything just target shooting.
Thats way overboard IMO


You guys have more money than me... $3000 would hurt... but not as much a the shame..
I agree $3000 could be a lot of money for these guy

[The Hermit]

Justin is on Facebook. Tell him how you feel.

I see he didn't post pictures of the cow elk he poached at night within a few yards of a dwelling house!

This guy KNOWINGLY committed those offenses and IMO should have had a lifetime hunting and firearms ban.

[bcshadow]

Luck for them they aren't in the US, where I understand a multi year prison sentence is quite common. I agree that the fines were far too low. No mention of the vehicle being confiscated?

[MB_Boy]

I agree $3000 could be a lot of money for these guy

Penalties for breaking the law are not graded on income....$3000 is dick all as a deterrent whether or not you drove a 1973 Chevy pick up or a Mercedes to commit the crime.

[BCHunterTV]

All I ever is slap on the wrists...

A certain tv host has been charged again, this time in Alberta

[RiverOtter]

Nugent...?

[Xenomorph]

Nugent...?

No, the super slam guy, Pat Garrett

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/famed-alberta-hunt-guide-fined-3k-for-ignoring-yukon-prohibition-1.3543879

[BgBlkDg]

Pat Garrett, is a "super hunter" and obviously considers himself above the concerns of we ordinary serfs. I think that ALL of his guns, optics, hunting gear and vehicles should be confiscated and he sentenced to a minimum of FIVE YEARS no parole in a max. security gaol.

He should be banned from having guns, hunting and fishing for LIFE and required to report his activities/whereabouts to a CO in his area EVERY MONTH for the remainder of his life.

This, should be publicized and it might make others think before acting...........

[fuzzybiscuit]

There are quite a few stories on Pat Garrett over on Alberta Outdoorsman. There are a lot of people who idolize him over there, including most of the moderators. All the juicy stuff disappears pretty quick.

[Drillbit]

After shooting Billy the Kid in the back, he probably thinks he's above the law. :twisted:

[vkylev]

You guys are a tough bunch. I think the punishment was fine.

[silveragent]

Are the names of the poachers usually not published?

[TreeStandMan]

Seems to me that if they used the "headlights of a vehicle" to poach that elk, the vehicle should have been confiscated too.

[wideopenthrottle]

Are the names of the poachers usually not published?

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/research-monitoring-reporting/reporting/environmental-enforcement-reporting/quarterly-environmental-enforcement-summary

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-98-199/index.html

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Game+Killing+Fundamentals.html

these are a few links I have in favourites that I like to look at when necessary

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/fishing-hunting/hunting/limited-entry-hunting