A Star City area man has pled guilty to several wildlife offences and was fined $15,000 in Melfort provincial court.
According to the province, Ivan L. Beuker, aged 67 of Star City, was fined $15,000 for illegal hunting; waste of edible game; hunting within 500 m of occupied buildings; hunting big game with a rim fire rifle; and night hunting. A three-year hunting suspension was also imposed.
Ministry of Environment conservation officers in Melfort had received a report Jan. 7 of a dead deer on the laneway of a rural property west of Star City.
Officers soon found 10 dead white-tailed deer on the property. According to the province, the owner was interviewed and admitted he shot multiple deer between Jan. 1 and 6, 2021.
He claimed he shot the deer because they were causing damage to trees and shrubs on an adjacent property. The deer had all been shot at night.
On Jan. 10, 2021, officers responded to a second call in the same area and they located two more dead white-tailed deer. The investigation confirmed that all had died of gunshot trauma.
Of note, this individual did not contact the ministry to report that he was experiencing damage to his property.
Residents concerned about wildlife property damage can visit the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporations webpage to learn prevention techniques and compensation. To report violations, call the toll-free Turn In Poachers and Polluters line at 1-800-667-7561, or call #5555 for SaskTel cellular subscribers. Violations can also be reported online at www.saskatchewan.ca/tipp.
