Moose poachers fined $10,000 each

[sunnyside]

Two poachers who admitted shooting and leaving two moose to die lingering deaths near Caroline last month have each been fined $10,000.

Cody Ditchuk, 20, and Matthew Nicholson, 20, pleaded guilty in Didsbury provincial court to charges of hunting in a closed season, hunting big game with a prohibited weapon and wasting edible meat.

The men used .22-calibre rifles to shoot the animals on private land 140 kilometres northwest of Calgary on March 21, court heard.

"This is a horrendous crime," said Commissioner Allan Fay. "You shot them for nothing more than to kill them. This just fuels the anti-hunting lobby in this province."

 

[riden]

Seems fair to me.

Similar story near me, couple of young fellas shot a trophy wt with a 22 while they were grouse hunting. Can't remember what their sentence was, not that high though. Different circumstances I guess.

 

[whammy]

Not good enough in my opinion. These #######s should get jail time.

 

[bone-collector]

thts good they need to hand out more penalties that high!

and yes Riden its everywere, we have seen moose with 22 bullets in them more than once and a couple of black bears as well in the past as well we have the antler restrictions in the next region over from me and I cant tell you how many moose are shot and left to rot because someone made a mistake or just didnt care when they pulled the trigger

 

[X-man]

They should get a lifetime ban from ever holding ANY type of hunting license in Canada again in addition to the fine, which they'll probably weasel out of paying anyway. Start throwing lifetime hunting bans around and it'll start making some of these yahoos think twice before pulling the trigger.

 

[silverado7]

They should get a lifetime ban from ever holding ANY type of hunting license in Canada again in addition to the fine, which they'll probably weasel out of paying anyway. Start throwing lifetime hunting bans around and it'll start making some of these yahoos think twice before pulling the trigger.

X2
Would make 'em think first!

 

[cdngunner]

They should get a lifetime ban from ever holding ANY type of hunting license in Canada again in addition to the fine, which they'll probably weasel out of paying anyway. Start throwing lifetime hunting bans around and it'll start making some of these yahoos think twice before pulling the trigger.

I believe every one should get a second chance. Life time ban on second offence.

Glad they caught the guys though

 

[ben hunchak]

Don't you think that a lifetime ban on hunting for these guys would just cause them to do more poaching? I think jail time would slow them down.

 

[44fordy]

Slap on the wrist!! They should get time, period.

Or if it were up to me, they'd be ductaped naked to jackpines in the northwoods with penut butter and honey on their gems!!

A$$HOLES!!

 

[rustysdream]

Don't you think that a lifetime ban on hunting for these guys would just cause them to do more poaching? I think jail time would slow them down.

Agree

 

[Ljungman]

What was prohibited about the .22 rifles?

 

[Jay]

Jail time... The fines and bans are just slaps on the wrist in my opinion...

Cheers
Jay

 

[scott_r]

These kids most likely work on the oil field and make this in a couple months.
It sure is disturbing seeing the lack of respect and dignity for our wildlife.

 

[dudu]

What was prohibited about the .22 rifles?

It is unlawful to set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:
ammunition of less than .23 calibre...

Excerpt from ALBERTA GUIDE TO HUNTING REGULATIONS, BIG GAME PROHIBITIONS.

 

[riden]

What was prohibited about the .22 rifles?

At first I was thinking prohibited firearm too.

 

[trubluscrew]

They need jail time plus the fine. Even add 44fordy's suggestion.

Money's, money, you can make more of it; you can't make more time. They need a couple of years "time out" wearing DOC orange.

What a waste of good meat

 

[riden]

Agreed they should be prohibited from hunting BUT, I assume they are not hunters to begin with. I ASSUME they just killed them for something to do.

If they have never owned a hunting license, I can see where it may not be included in the sentencing.

 

[huntinstuff]

I believe every one should get a second chance. Life time ban on second offence.

Glad they caught the guys though

I believe in one strike and you're out.

Once for certain things is enough.

And jail time should have been imposed.

 

[cdngunner]

I believe in one strike and you're out.

Once for certain things is enough.

And jail time should have been imposed.

you know, I am all for them getting tarred and feathered and dragged behind a semi on a highway for a few hundred miles.
But after that we should give them a second chance.
If they offend a second time they should deffinately have all their rights removed on top of a more seditious (sp) beating then the first time

 

[sherlockbonez]

I think that's fair. 10,000 is a lot of money.Take at least a couple months to make, plus it probably srew up your credit for a few more years. Not to mention the universal truth that no $$ = no poontang.

I know it's unethical, and down right cruel to shoot something that big, only to let it die a slow death. But they are still young, and maybe they will learn their lesson this time, and become stand up people.