Saskatchewan residents fined over $17K for illegal hunting after photo of deer posted online

Three Saskatchewan residents are facing a total of $17,240 in fines for illegal hunting activity the province says was discovered after a photo of a deer was posted on social media.

According to the province, in November 2023 Moose Jaw conservation officers saw a social media post that included multiple photos of a woman posing with an untagged white-tail deer buck.

Investigators soon found more pictures of the same person with other wildlife, including an untagged white-tailed deer doe, the province said.

In early December, Moose Jaw and Regina conservation officers executed a search warrant at a rural residence where they seized guns, animal trophies, wild game meat and hunting seals.

As a result, a Marquis, Sask. woman was convicted of four counts of unlawful hunting and one count of providing false information to an officer, a news release said. That resulted in a fine of $13,020 and a three-year licence suspension, the release said.

Marquis is located about an hour west of Regina.

A Moose Jaw woman was also convicted of unlawful possession of wildlife and providing false information to an officer, which the province says landed her a fine of $3,220 and a two-year licence suspension.

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A man also from Marquis, Sask. was convicted of four counts of failing to tag game and was fined $1,000 while also receiving a one year licence suspension.

“Saskatchewan laws regulating the harvest of wildlife are in place to support healthy and sustainable wildlife populations and to ensure that animals are taken responsibly and ethically,” the province said in the release.

Those who suspect wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations are encouraged to call Saskatchewan’s toll-free TIPP line to turn in poachers and polluters, or report violations online.