A man and woman from Wasa recently received a combined $6,000 penalty and hunting bans in connection with poaching a Mule deer near Cranbrook, the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) reported Feb. 25.

“On November 7, 2023, Conservation Officers responded to a RAPP complaint from a member of the public who observed a woman loading a dead three-point Mule deer into her pickup truck in the Cranbrook area during a four-point only season.

“The COS investigation determined a woman and another individual destroyed and hid evidence by cutting up the antlers of a three-point Mule deer with a saw, and hiding the carcass in a nearby waste transfer station. When confronted by Conservation Officers, a woman stated she had killed a four-point Mule deer but forgot to cancel her species licence, and a bear had come and taken the Mule deer head along with the antlers,” COS outlined.

COs, with the assistance of COS K9 Major, searched the waste transfer station and nearby area, and located cut-up antler pieces and the remains of a Mule deer carcass.

Julie Holmes and Benjamin Roberts appeared in provincial court in Cranbrook today. Julie Holmes pleaded guilty to two counts under the Wildlife Act; for killing wildlife not within an open season and resisting or obstructing an officer in their duty. She received a $4,000 penalty and a three-year hunting ban.

Benjamin Roberts pleaded guilty to one count under the Wildlife Act, for the unlawful possession of dead wildlife. Roberts received a $2,000 penalty and an 18-month hunting ban.

All but $1 of each penalty is directed towards the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

BC Conservation Officer Service photos

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