News Release

Hunters Fined $18,000 for Hunting Offences

Hanna, Alberta - August 22, 2007 - Lucas Pawley, of Redmond, Oregon, the sixth and final member of a party of American hunters charged with hunting offences, pleaded guilty and was fined $3,000 in Hanna Provincial Court today for exceeding the possession limit for White Fronted Geese, in violation of the Migratory Birds Regulations.  

In June 2007, five other hunters in the party were fined $3,000 each for exceeding the daily possession limit of White Fronted Geese.  Fines for all six hunters total $18,000.

Mr. Pawley, along with hunting partners Todd Aaron Dailey, William McCall, John Geshay, Freniel Castillo and Jason Rhode, are collectively required to submit an article to a waterfowl publication aboutthe offence and the sentence imposed by the Court. 

Following a joint investigation by Alberta Fish and Wildlife and Environment Canada wildlife officers in October 2006, the six hunters were found to be in possession of 47 White Fronted Geese, far in excess of the daily limit of three each for non-residents of Canada.  Collectively, they were over the daily bag limit by 24 geese, and in excess of their total possession limit by 11 geese. 

Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the $18,000 in fines imposed by the Court will be 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 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:

Larry Ottmann
Wildlife Enforcement Division
Environment Canada
Telephone : (403) 292-4103
Cellular: (403) 861-6998