Hunters in British Columbia are required to hold a valid license, often subject to restrictions based on species, quantity, seasons, and designated areas. Violating these regulations by hunting without proper authorization or outside permissible areas or conditions can lead to severe legal repercussions.
Experienced and inexperienced hunters alike make mistakes. You may confuse a white-tailed deer for a mule deer, you may forget to get a landowner’s permission before starting a hunt, or you may mistake your location and end up hunting game outside of a wildlife management area.
Also, hunting offences are typically “strict liability” offences – meaning that if the evidence shows that you carried out the illegal act, you will be found guilty of that act regardless of whether you intended to do it. This means that the Crown generally has an easier job proving hunting offences than it does proving many criminal offences. Nevertheless, a conviction for a hunting infraction can result in a significant fine, a suspension of your hunting privileges, and even the seizure of personal property, such as your vehicle and rifle.
Common Hunting Offences
These are some of the most common hunting violations our clients face:
- Hunting Out of Season;
- Hunting Without a Licence;
- Hunting in a Prohibited Area;
- Hunting Threatened or Endangered Species;
- Unlawful Possession of Wildlife;
- Illegal Trafficking of Wildlife;
- Illegal Use of Hunting Equipment;
- Damaging Wildlife Habitat.
Penalties for Hunting Offences
The penalties for committing hunting offences under the Wildlife Act or Firearm Act include the following:
- Warnings. These are notices of violations that do not result in a fine or charge, but that will result in a fine or charge on any subsequent occasion.
- Fines. For first offences, fines on violation tickets range from $345 to $1,495. For subsequent offences and more serious offences, the potential fines are much larger. If you fail to pay a fine within the time required, all licences (hunting and angling), permits and limited entry hunting authorizations issued to you under the Wildlife Act will be cancelled immediately.
- License suspension or cancellation. Courts may suspend or cancel hunting licenses, firearms licenses, or impose a hunting ban for a specified time.
- Seizure. Conservation Officers have broad powers to seize firearms, hunting gear, dead wildlife, vehicles and anything they have reasonable grounds to believe provides evidence of an offence.
- Convictions and imprisonment. Convictions can lead to a criminal record, which may affect future employment or travel. The severity of the punishment is typically based on the nature of the violation. In severe cases, such as hunting endangered species or repeated offenses, violators may face a term of imprisonment.
Legal Services for Defendants and Victims of Wildlife Offences
If you have been ticketed or charged with hunting offences, or if unauthorized hunting activities by others that harmed the environment, property, or wildlife in a way that has affected you, we are here to help. We handle cases involving violations of hunting and environmental laws and can assist in protecting your rights and the ecosystem.
We provide detailed and comprehensive legal advice to help you understand your rights and the laws that apply to your situation. We gather and examine the evidence and documents relevant to the charges against you. We identify weaknesses or inaccuracies in the case, prepare your defence, ensure a fair trial and potentially reduce the severity of any penalties you may face. In appropriate cases, we can also pursue compensation for damage to your property or natural resources caused by the violations of others.
With our extensive experience in environmental cases and wildlife violations, we are ready to support you through the legal process and protect your rights. Contact us today to receive expert advice and secure legal representation.