Manitoba Conservation and Climate say that their conservation officers are continuing their clamp down on illegal night hunting across the province.
On October 10 the Wildlife Amendment Act took effect that makes it illegal to hunt at night on private land. Rights-based hunters can apply for a permit to night hunt on crown land in southern Manitoba under certain restrictions. Indigenous hunters in northern Manitoba are allowed to hunt at night on crown land without a permit.
Since the act came into force conservation officers have laid charges or handed out appearance notice to 27 people for serious wildlife offences. 19 people were issued warnings for night hunting without a permit or hunting within a moose conservation closure. Four people have been charged for possessing illegally taken wildlife.
Officers have also seized six vehicles, 13 firearms and have issued $14,000 in restitution orders.
Over the past weekend officers seized a number of firearms from people who were spotted hunting in contravention of regulations.
On Saturday two men were charged and a rifle and shotgun were seized after they were spotted chasing a buck and doe on private land from their truck. The driver admitted to officers that he did not have permission to hon on the property. Both men were charged for hunting on private land and issued warnings for hunting from a vehicle.
Later Saturday officers stopped a vehicle that had shot at a decoy they had set up. Two brothers are currently under investigation for shooting at the decoys from the roadway one hour after sunset. Charges are being considered. A shotgun and a flashlight were seized.
On Sunday officers caught a man shooting at a decoy from inside a truck. The hunter faces charges for hunting on private land without permission, and discharging a loaded firearm from a vehicle. A rifle was seized.
Later that night an aerial patrol in the Interlake observed a vehicle night hunting near Fraserwood. Officers on the ground located the vehicle in a yard with a loaded firearm inside. The owner of the vehicle is facing charges for having a loaded firearm in a vehicle and unsafe storage of a firearm in a vehicle.
© News4.ca 2020
