Thomas Pigeon and Production Company - Total Of $8,000 In Fines

How much did its cost in tax payers dollars to come up with this fine? Alot more than 8k??? Guides received no fines and really did all they illegal stuff. Pigeon just shot and smiled for the camera.
 
I've also hunted with locals enough to have seen that they just want to fill the freezer (or the front porch, in the winter). Do they always follow the rules to the letter? I suppose some do and some don't, just like everywhere.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge that rule doesn't apply to Inuit hunters, just like a lot of rules we have to follow here in the "south" don't apply to first nations hunters.
 
What about charges for the guides and those doing the herding? Were they not part of the wrongdoing?

Ted Troubridge of Excalibur crossbows got nailed for the same thing a couple of years back, it might even have been for the same TV episode. IIRC from news articles at the time, the guides weren't charged because the statute of limitations had expired in Nunavut. Remember, Pigeon and Troubridge weren't charged with illegally hunting in Nunavut, they were charged with bring trophies into Ontario that were taken using illegal methods in another jurisdiction.
 
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge that rule doesn't apply to Inuit hunters, just like a lot of rules we have to follow here in the "south" don't apply to first nations hunters.

No, the rules apply in the North whether you hold a GHL or not. You're thinking of the dogsled-only rule for polar bear hunting which only applies to sport hunters, not residents.
 
Ted Troubridge of Excalibur crossbows got nailed for the same thing a couple of years back, it might even have been for the same TV episode. .

That is Bill Troubridge. Yes he got fined for the same reason Pigeon did but it was a couple of years later that his illegal activity took place even though he was found guilty two years earlier than Pigeon. Click here for the press release
on Troubridge.


I can see where all the confusion came from, The Nunavut regulations aren't clear at all ............................... :rolleyes:

muskox.jpg
 
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Two ontario tv shows and hosts that should know better.

Read the regs where you will be hunting in advance!
 
http://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...elease-quot-Thomas-Pidgeon-Pleads-GUILTY-quot. MNR which is your tax dollars and game license fees. 5 year investigation.

Thank you for that, but below comes directly from the MNR website. They state "following information provided."
So the MNR did not spend countless hours watching video looking for something to nail him with. Someone went to the MNR with the information to have him charged and the MNR followed up.
Who went to the MNR with that information?
I'm guessing that it was one of the anti hunting groups that spent their countless dollars to find something to have Thomas charged with, in a further effort to have hunting removed from television. They have already been successful in having hunting related shows removed from GLOBAL.
So the truth is that the MNR did not spend the countless dollars. They followed up on information provided.

Give the guy a break. Could you stand up to that same kind of scrutiny?
I choose to stand behind the man and show that promotes hunting and fishing, not that I promote breaking the law.

The courts heard that in April of 2005, William Troubridge and Roger Davidson were involved in hunts for muskox on Victoria Island, Nunavut. Video of the hunts was being taken for a Canadian hunting television show. Following information provided to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, a search warrant was obtained and the raw video footage of these hunts was seized from a video production facility in Ontario.
 
I'm not a fan, but I believe it is the Guide's responsibility to know/follow/inform the Client of the intricacies of the local regulations.
 
8000 is cheap, some guides outside Bancroft got nailed for around 15000 each, IIRC, for taking moose and reusing tags, I think there were 6 charged.
 
Barely worth an investigation let alone charges...people always enjoy hating on those who are on TV or may have more money than they do...It is getting so it is almost impossible to set foot in the woods without breaking a law.
 
I read the article again and I cant find the part that said they didn't have licenses for the animals taken. All I got from it is that they got too close to the animals with a ski-doo and had their guides herd the animals closer to them to pick out the best of the herd for a shot.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not defending the guy. But my idea of poaching is killing animals out of season or killing an animal that you don't have a license for. I can't find anywhere in the article that says they did that. It says the animal was illegally killed (herding) and that they were in possession of 2 muskox and a wood bison in Ontario. Like they didn't file the right paperwork for export/transport or something.

To me, not poaching. In violation of "fair chase" laws and wild game possession laws, yes. But not poaching.

Well, your definition of poaching isnt the law.
 
None of my video's are staged and all our geese were herded into the decoys via flagging, calling and good old fashioned concealment. Maybe I should start my own show?! And none of my videos end with the all too familiar conservation and ethics speeches. Usually they are more "man you dropped that *+^#% hard" LOL :p
 
This incident is what lead to Mr Pigeon leaving the wildlife pursuits and then selling the company to others.

Not sure what he is doing now ? Does anyone know what Thomas is up to?
 
This incident is what lead to Mr Pigeon leaving the wildlife pursuits and then selling the company to others.

Not sure what he is doing now ? Does anyone know what Thomas is up to?

I was told he owns a packaging company, by someone that has been to his house.
 
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