News Release

Hunter Fined $10,000 for Wildlife Violations 

SASKATOON, SK - May 29, 2007 - An American hunter has been sentenced in Provincial Court to a fine of $10,000 for three counts of violating federal wildlife conservation legislation in connection with illegally hunting waterfowl in the Cumberland Marsh area of Saskatchewan in 2003.

William C. Braden III of Houston, Texas pleaded guilty to three counts of exceeding daily bag limits for ducks under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.  Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the fine imposed by the Court is allocated to the Environmental Damages Fund.  The Fund, administered by Environment Canada, provides courts with a way to ensure that financial penalties are directed to address environmental damages.

The charges were laid by Environment Canada game officers, following a two-year investigation dubbed "Operation Overboard," conducted jointly with Saskatchewan Environment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The investigation centred on illegal hunting activities conducted at Mistik Lodge near Cumberland House in 2002 and 2003.  Cumberland House is located approximately 400 km northeast of Saskatoon.

Fines and forfeitures totalling $85,000 have been assessed as a result of Operation Overboard.   The investigation resulted in four North Carolina hunters being fined $27,000 after pleading guilty in September 2004 to nine counts of violating federal and provincial wildlife conservation legislation. Additional equipment with an estimated value of $10,500 was forfeited, including firearms, clothing, cameras, and ammunition.  The North Carolina hunters also donated $4,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund.  Three other South Carolina hunters paid fines totalling $2,570 for offences they committed while hunting at Mistik Lodge in 2002.

In March 2005, a Cumberland House waterfowl hunting outfitter and three guides pleaded guilty to a total of 51 counts under federal and provincial wildlife conservation legislation.  They were fined $30,000 in relation to their actions which occurred over a period of two years and included counselling their clientele to exceed daily duck hunting limits and to refrain from retrieving birds that were shot.

The maximum penalty on summary conviction for each offence under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 is a fine of $300,000, or six months imprisonment, or both.

For more information, please contact:

Brian Petrar
Assistant Regional Director
Wildlife Enforcement Division
Environment Canada
Telephone:  (306) 975-4799

The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 is available at:

http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroRegs/Eng/SearchDetail.cfm?intAct=1010