DIGBY COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA, October 22, 2004 - Three men from South Western Nova Scotia have been convicted of illegal hunting over bait and possession of migratory birds in excess of allowable bag limits. Jacques LeBlanc, of Wedgeport and Christian D'Entremont, of Pubnico were each fined $1,105 and suspended from hunting migratory birds for one year under the Government of Canada's Migratory Birds Regulations. A third Man, Renald LeBlanc, also of Pubnico was fined $989, forfeited a firearm, and received a one year migratory bird hunting suspension. He also has been banned from hunting by the Province for one year for hunting without a provincial small game permit.

The charges and conviction relate to an incident which occurred on October 8, 2004 at Belliveau Lake, Digby County. Three men were discovered hunting black ducks over bait by a joint operation of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; the RCMP Yarmouth detachment dog team; and Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service. Following a brief pursuit, two men were apprehended with the assistance of an RCMP tracking dog. A third man was subsequently identified and charged.
Summary offence tickets were issued to all three men by Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service.

For further information contact:

Lewis Thomson
Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service
Atlantic Region
(902) 426-1188