SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Sept. 9, 2004 -- Four hunters from High Point, North Carolina were fined $27,000 today in Saskatoon Provincial Court after pleading guilty to nine counts of violating federal and provincial wildlife legislation. The hunters will also donate $4,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund in exchange for the return of some equipment. Additional equipment with an estimated value of $10,500 was forfeited, including firearms and clothing. Arthur Corpening, John Corpening, Arch Schoch IV and Fred Ingram Jones pled guilty to violations under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act, including taking a protected species, killing over the daily limit, and hunting with toxic (lead) shot. The charges were laid by Environment Canada and Saskatchewan Environment in October 2003, following a joint investigation of a waterfowl hunting trip the men took to north central Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Wildlife Act provides for maximum penalties of $100,000 per offence. The maximum penalty on summary conviction for each violation under the Migratory Birds Convention Act is $50,000 and/or six months in jail. The Environmental Damages Fund helps ensure violators take responsibility for their actions. It gives courts a way to guarantee that the money from penalties and settlements is directly invested to repair the actual harm done. The Migratory Birds Convention Act is available at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroRegs/Eng/SearchDetail.cfm?intAct=1010 The Saskatchewan Wildlife Act is available at: http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=publications.details&p=938 - 30 - For further information: Brian Petrar Regional Special Investigations Coordinator Wildlife Enforcement Division Environment Canada, Tel.: (306) 975-4799 Cell (306) 221-9731
