Alberta couple fined $14K for hunting offences in Sask.

Using a cellphone while driving led to a total of $14,340 in fines for hunting offences for a couple from Alberta.

In a media release Thursday, the Ministry of Environment said the investigation started Nov. 22 near Turtleford, where a conservation officer saw a man using his phone while driving.

The officer pulled over the vehicle containing two occupants and discovered it was transporting a harvested white-tailed deer with improperly applied seals.

“Further investigation confirmed that both individuals had obtained multiple Saskatchewan resident hunting licences, despite being Alberta residents since 2018,” the release said.

“As well, the couple provided false information about where and when several deer had been harvested, and tried to enlist another person to commit an illegal act to cover up the deceptions.”

During a recent appearance in St. Walburg Provincial Court, a man from Veteran, Alta., was fined $10,750 for the non-resident purchase of a Saskatchewan resident hunting licence (four counts), unlawful hunting (three counts), providing false information to a conservation officer, failing to possess a valid firearm licence, illegal export of game and using a cellphone while driving.

A woman from the same community was fined $3,590 for the non-resident purchase of a Saskatchewan resident hunting licence (three counts), providing false information to a conservation officer and allowing another person to use their seal.

Both individuals also were handed three-year hunting suspensions.