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Poaching investigation leads to fines for three people

Three residents of Imperial, recently pleaded guilty in a Saskatoon courtroom to violations under The Wildlife Act and The Wildlife Regulations . They were fined a total of $11,080 and each received a two-year hunting suspension.
Deer

Three residents of Imperial, recently pleaded guilty in a Saskatoon courtroom to violations under The Wildlife Act and The Wildlife Regulations.  They were fined a total of $11,080 and each received a two-year hunting suspension.

In November 2018, Ministry of Environment conservation officers received several calls regarding a mule deer buck that was shot and left in a field, as well as two white-tailed deer that were untagged and hanging in a garage in Imperial.

During the investigation, officers located three individuals heading west of Imperial.  Officers determined that two of the three were responsible for shooting the mule deer buck, while all three individuals were involved in taking the two white-tailed deer.

Keegan Wierl, 28, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of wildlife, failing to immediately attach big game animal seals and three counts of unlawfully purchasing a game or fur licence without training.  He also pleaded guilty to hunting on signed land without consent, leaving edible game in the field and failing to report an accidental wildlife killing.  Wierl was fined $5,670.

Ryan Vaughn, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of wildlife and failing to immediately attach big game animal seals.  He also pleaded guilty to failing to carry a big game licence while hunting and hunting with seals not stating the licence number, year and type.  Vaughn was fined a total of $2,510.

Sherry McDade, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding in the contravention of The Wildlife Act and Regulations, and unlawfully having the unprocessed carcass of a big game animal in her possession without a seal attached.  McDade was fined $2,900.

In addition to the fines and suspensions, all three are required to complete an approved hunter safety course.

If you suspect wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations, please call your local Ministry of Environment office, Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cellular subscribers.  Violations can also be reported online at www.saskatchewan.ca/tipp.

You may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip Reward Program.  Callers can remain anonymous.