Dawson hunter receives $6,500 fine
A Dawson City bison hunter was fined $6,500 last Friday after pleading guilty to four charges under the Wildlife Act.
A Dawson City bison hunter was fined $6,500 last Friday after pleading guilty to four charges under the Wildlife Act.
The charges were hunting by aircraft, failing to make a reasonable effort to kill wounded wildlife, waste of meat, and using a vehicle to transport wildlife in a closed game management subzone.
The charges stem from Micah Olesh's bison hunt in November 2011 near Haines Junction.
Olesh, a community development officer with the City of Dawson, was fined a total of $6,500 and prohibited for the next five years from obtaining a hunting licence, from hunting, and from accompanying anyone else who is hunting.
In addition, Olesh was ordered to attend and successfully complete the Hunter Education and Ethics Development (HEED) course. All seized parts of the bison were ordered forfeit.
The sentence, handed down by territorial judge Peter Chisholm during a Whitehorse court session, was based on a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence council.
The Department of Environment, meanwhile, thanks the Yukon public for their support and reminds everyone to use the TIPP line 1-800-661-0525 or www.env.gov.yk.ca/tipp to report any suspected resource violations.
Comments (5)
Up 14 Down 4
GunSmoke on Mar 13, 2014 at 3:18 am
Unbelievable, guys like this give hunters a bad name. Throw the book at them both - lifetime ban. Let's hope they don't have day jobs with any sort of responsibility towards the public.
Up 13 Down 1
BnR on Mar 12, 2014 at 11:08 pm
Flyingfur
There are a lot of unethical "hunters" out there, many of whom are Yukon newbies, so don't read too much into the comments.
I'm not so sure a lifetime ban on a first offence is appropriate, but this will certainly get his attention and make him think twice next time.
Up 34 Down 9
flyingfur on Mar 12, 2014 at 1:03 am
I don't normally pay attention to past comments but amazing to me that 69 people disagree with me stating that he should have a lifetime ban from hunting. Maybe that is part of the reason that guys like this get off so lightly or even consider doing stuff life this in the first place.
Up 26 Down 3
CrazyinDoadge on Mar 11, 2014 at 11:44 am
Are you kidding me was this goof by himself ? How is it possible that in this day and age someone could be so reckless looks like willful or complete incompetence! Unreal!
Up 41 Down 83
flyingfur on Mar 11, 2014 at 7:09 am
He should have been banned for life from hunting. I'm sure had he taken the course he would have known all that he did was wrong and unlawful (note sarcasm).