Two Kitimat men were recently sentenced to pay a fine for unlawfully killing a mule deer south of 亚洲天堂 Lake.

On Aug. 11, 2017, the two men appeared in court in Smithers to answer to charges of shooting a mule deer from within 15 meters of a maintained roadway, trespassing and unlawful possession of wildlife.

The act occurred in the community of Wistaria last Remembrance Day. The two men were caught by a landowner as they were sneaking the deer under the fence of a ranch along the paved portion of the Ootsa Nadina Road.

鈥淭he landowner had the presence of mind to write down the licence plate and report the incident,鈥� said 亚洲天堂 Lake conservation officer Jeff Palm.

Conservation officers attended the area within the hour, but the suspects had already fled the scene, according to Palm.

The following day, the men confessed to shooting the deer after a 亚洲天堂 Lake conservation officer attended the residences of the two men in Kitimat. The conservation officer seized a rifle and a large four-point mule deer buck, and submitted a report to Crown council.

The two men entered a guilty plea and were sentenced to fines totalling over $2000, as well as a six-month hunting prohibition for the individual that pulled the trigger. In addition, both men have been ordered to retake the conservation outdoor recreation education course for new hunters. The deer meat was donated to charity.

Palm reminds the public that they remain the Conservation Officer Service鈥檚 first line of defence in protecting the environment. Any wildlife or pollution offences can be reported 24 hours a day at 1-877-952-7277.