Kelly Udell of Udell's guiding pleads guilty

[Declared Bishop]

On Feb. 25, outfitter Kelly Udell pleaded guilty in the Fairview Court of Justice to knowingly hunting mule deer in a Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) not authorized by his licence.

Udell was fined $7,800. The court acknowledged his early guilty plea, lack of prior offences, and the fact that a deer had not been killed when the violation was identified.

On Nov. 22, fish and wildlife officers uncovered the offence during a compliance check in WMU 526. The mule deer licence he obtained for his hunting client was only valid in WMU 525, approximately 48 km away.

Udell initially claimed the issue was a vendor error, but that was proven false through security footage and verification with the retailer. As an experienced outfitter with allocations in both zones since 2014, Udell admitted he knowingly took a “calculated risk” in guiding his client without a licence authorized for WMU 526.

This type of offence, commonly known as “zone jumping,” undermines wildlife management and can place hunting clients at risk of criminal charges.

Some outfitter. Supposed to be promoting lawful and ethical hunting practices, and instead takes "Calculated risks" when taking clients hunting and deciding if he should break the law.

This guy should have to forfeit all of his own personal hunting gear, his entire outfitting gear collection, his own hunting licence, and his guiding licence.

This wasn't an accident, he KNOWINGLY jumped WMUs. Sure, he didn't get the deer, but you bet your last dollar he would have if the opportunity would have presented itself.

Screw this guy, I hope he never gets to guide another hunt.

 

[byronick87]

its been said how many times, but penalties are not steep enough for these scum

 

[Suther]

This guy should have to forfeit all of his own personal hunting gear, his entire outfitting gear collection, his own hunting licence, and his guiding licence.

The problem with that idea is it creates a massive incentive to keep doing illegal things, with very little incentive to do things legally. If you take a poachers license forever they'll have no legal means of harvest so the chances they poach again are high.

The fact he got caught will have a greater effect on others than whatever the punishment was - criminals generally don't consider the punishment, but they do consider how likely they will be caught.

 

[FLHTCUI]

its been said how many times, but penalties are not steep enough for these scum

Yet, they are still in business and continue to poach animals with/for clients.
Couple guys here local once got pinched for poaching and spent their time in court .
Found guilty and had their license revoked for a year.
All they did was go to Alberia and hunt there by jumping through some small hoops.

 

[Beeron]

While I agree that this type of behaviour is inexcusable, I have no idea the circumstances of this persons life or his character.
Even though the behaviour was clearly intentional, everyone makes mistakes in judgement and in some cases, those that are awarded a chance to redeem themselves, take it to heart and become a boon to the resource. These folks end up operating under pretty heavy scrutiny and any future violations are severely punished.

After all, the goal of enforcement is to promote voluntary compliance.
How that is best achieved depends on the circumstances and the person, with additional consideration given to the effect of the penalty on the public, or in this case, guide community.
In some cases, that is overt "punishment"
In others, it's more geared toward education.
In this case, it is punitive on the offender and hopefully has a deterrent effect on the guide community.

We are not imprisoning these people so they are going to continue to live among us and we want them to amend their behaviour, not radicalize them.

 

[track]

Yet, they are still in business and continue to poach animals with/for clients.
Couple guys here local once got pinched for poaching and spent their time in court .
Found guilty and had their license revoked for a year.
All they did was go to Alberia and hunt there by jumping through some small hoops.

The biggest convicted poacher in Alberta history is, Lloyd McMahon (Great White Holdings) He is still operating his outfitting business. Alberta Outfitters are protected by their own. It's APOS who is judge, jury and executioner for wildlife convictions, after the Alberta Game Wardens take him to trial and fine them guilty.

 

[stubblejumper]

The biggest convicted poacher in Alberta history is, Lloyd McMahon (Great White Holdings) He is still operating his outfitting business. Alberta Outfitters are protected by their own. It's APOS who is judge, jury and executioner for wildlife convictions, after the Alberta Game Wardens take him to trial and fine them guilty.

Customers continue to book with this scum, because they will do anything, legal or otherwise, to get them their animals.