Guide charged for illegal sheep

[srupp]

I’m not exactly sure as to what happened but I do know this guide personally through work. I do know from the five years I have worked with him that he is an honest hard working guy that probably
just made a bad call somehow. I know he has guided sheep for a number of years and is quite the accomplished hunter. I’m betting he’s paying the fine personally

well written response Brew....I believe you that he is a good guy who made a mistake ,it does happen,unfortunately .I am thinking the client would be seeking his money back or gratis future hunt..sheep are tricky...

thanks for the imput.

Steven

[Downtown]

Me thinks’ it was a honest mistake and the finewas justified especially because the Assi Guide was an experienced Sheep Guide.Chances are The Fine equalled the Assi Guides Wages.

Outfitter won’t be happy either. Chancesare the Client will ask for his Money back, all of it including hunt associatedcosts not to mention wasted time. At the very least the Outfitter willhave to offer a replacement hunt. If he does not and If the Client sues chancesare the Client will win in Court. Furthermore this will make it very difficultfor the Outfitter to sell his hunts in the future. No prospective Client I knowof would want to book a hunt with an Outfitter which has Assi Guides not adheringby the rules and/or taking unnecessary chances, all being part of being aprofessional Guide.

Should Resident Hunters be measured by the sameyardstick, I am not sure but would think it depends of his/her experiencehunting Wild Sheep.

[high horse Hal]

First I've heard of such a fine going to the ag
Begs the question if there were other circumstances, more to the story

and if this is to be the new norm, i'd not want to be the first BC hunter showing up with a short sheep like happens every year

[TheObserver]

The guide/outfitter gets the big bucks, the assistant is just cheap labour, often a tfw these days
The AG only has to pass a rudimentary exam from the GOABC, not the Gub't, to get a license to guide

What is tfw?

[LBM]

Me thinks’ it was a honest mistake and the finewas justified especially because the Assi Guide was an experienced Sheep Guide.Chances are The Fine equalled the Assi Guides Wages.

Outfitter won’t be happy either. Chancesare the Client will ask for his Money back, all of it including hunt associatedcosts not to mention wasted time. At the very least the Outfitter willhave to offer a replacement hunt. If he does not and If the Client sues chancesare the Client will win in Court. Furthermore this will make it very difficultfor the Outfitter to sell his hunts in the future. No prospective Client I knowof would want to book a hunt with an Outfitter which has Assi Guides not adheringby the rules and/or taking unnecessary chances, all being part of being aprofessional Guide.

Should Resident Hunters be measured by the sameyardstick, I am not sure but would think it depends of his/her experiencehunting Wild Sheep.

Maybe have to get rid of the age rule for thin horns like they did with EK bighorns. Or as here stiffer fines/penalties or more education to be able to hunt certain species such as sheep, yet many cant even count to 6 when it comes to elk.
Would be nice to see a picture of the ram, was it a 7 year old lamb tip or a heavy broomed ram with only 7 visible annuli , which could show may be a need for some other changes to regs. Kind of boils down to hunters have to learn
to not be in such a panic and need to kill something.
If its illegal its illegal and all should be charged the same.

[Rackmastr]

What is tfw?

Temporary Foreign Worker (work permit)

[2chodi]

A few years ago there were more than 20 rams seized in region 7B, with almost half taken by guided hunters. Not all were short by age or length. At that time I asked the local BC COS inspector on who could be charged. The guide license holder, assistant guide and/or the hunter was the answer — it depends on the circumstances.

2024 season — only two "illegal" rams in 7B.

BTW the Wild Sheep Society of BC is holding aging and field judging sheep workshops around the province with still some coming in the next days/months. Check out their website: https://www.wildsheepsociety.com/hor...d-judging-rams

One of the workshops will be in partnership with the North Peace Rod and Gun Club on July 5th featuring biologists Mike Bridger and Rayelle Hartley.

[high horse Hal]

A few years ago there were more than 20 rams seized in region 7B, with almost half taken by guided hunters. Not all were short by age or length. At that time I asked the local BC COS inspector on who could be charged. The guide license holder, assistant guide and/or the hunter was the answer — it depends on the circumstances.

any idea if this new high $$ penalty was cooked up as a deterrent? to any sheep hunter or guide?
Someone has an agenda it seems

[2chodi]

No idea - anything I would have to add would be pure speculation. All fines for wildlife related offenses went up significantly last year. The resident fine for harvesting an animal, with for example, too few points is well over $1000 now.

any idea if this new high $$ penalty was cooked up as a deterrent? to any sheep hunter or guide?
Someone has an agenda it seems

[mod7rem]

Maybe have to get rid of the age rule for thin horns like they did with EK bighorns. Or as here stiffer fines/penalties or more education to be able to hunt certain species such as sheep, yet many cant even count to 6 when it comes to elk.
Would be nice to see a picture of the ram, was it a 7 year old lamb tip or a heavy broomed ram with only 7 visible annuli , which could show may be a need for some other changes to regs. Kind of boils down to hunters have to learn
to not be in such a panic and need to kill something.
If it’s illegal it’s illegal and all should be charged the same.

I’ve read comments like this before, and I’m just curious if anyone has actually had a CI that aged a double broomed thinhorn ram only based on visible annuli? We’ve had a few rams over the years that were double broomed as much as to the 3rd year annuli, and these rams were always aged including the missing annuli.