Illegal outfitters sentenced in Alberta

Penalties include fines, 10-year guiding prohibition and jail time

Court proceedings in two separate cases involving illegal guiding services have concluded. The most severe penalties go to one Alberta man who received eight months incarceration, 50 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $16,917 in restitution.

In the second investigation, two individuals were sentenced to pay a total of $37,950 in fines. All three individuals were suspended from holding a recreational hunting licence for a period of 10 years, with additional restrictions imposed related to guiding in the future. None of the individuals charged were licensed by the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society.

The Fish and Wildlife Division of Sustainable Resource Development initiated two separate investigations into persons offering or providing illegal guiding services for hunting of big game in Alberta. Those charged as a result of these investigations pled guilty in June and July of this year.

The first investigation began in December 2007. Several U.S. citizens alleged they had contracted a southern Alberta man for guided big game hunts in the province. The individual advertised hunting opportunities, took money and wrote contracts for services but failed to deliver any hunt, asking for increasing sums of money. The individual responsible pled guilty to six counts of accepting money for guiding services, one count of criminal fraud and one count of failing to appear in court as required. Sentencing took place August 20.

In the second case, information was received between 2007 and 2009 that the individuals operating “Wilderness Memories Productions,” a bed and breakfast near Worsley, Alberta, were offering illegal guiding services. The two individuals in this case pled guilty to six offences under Alberta’s Wildlife Act. Sentencing took place August 23. In addition to the fines, a number of items that had been seized from the two individuals were forfeited to the court, including a vehicle, a firearm and other hunting materials used in the commission of the offenses.