Illegal Hunt Costs $4,000

By 250 News

Ft.St.John - A Vancouver man has been convicted of four charges under the Wildlife Act and Regulations and one charge under the Firearm Act. He has been ordered to pay $4,000 for the killing of a mule deer buck and a white-tailed doe.

In a Vancouver courtroom on Feb. 13, 2009, Lei Chen, of Vancouver, was convicted of two charges under the Wildlife Act: the unlawful possession of dead wildlife, and hunting wildlife that were not in open season. He was also convicted of one charge of discharging, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle under the Firearm Act. Chen was fined $300 and ordered to make a payment of $3,700 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

In addition to the monetary penalties, Chen has been ordered not to hunt, or be in the presence of someone hunting, going hunting or returning from a hunt, for a period of two years. Chen will also be required to re-take the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education Program before he reapplies for a hunting licence. His rifle valued at $2,500 was forfeited to the B.C. government.

The charges were laid after an investigation involving the Ministry of Environment's Conservation Officer Service in Fort St John. Chen was hunting in the Osburn area, approximately 60 miles north east of Fort St. John, when he illegally shot both deer with a rifle during an archery-only season.

The maximum fine for a conviction under the B.C. Wildlife Act is now $500,000, up from the previous $150,000 maximum, following amendments introduced by the government last year. Penalties can also include imprisonment for up to three years, up from the previous maximum of 18 months. The most severe penalties are for those convicted of killing

endangered species.

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