Poachers from Wakaw area fined, suspended for ‘unethical hunting practices’

Four people have been fined nearly $17,000 and have been suspended from hunting for up to three years after pleading guilty to various wildlife infractions.

In a media release Tuesday, the Saskatchewan government said an investigation “uncovered a family’s pattern of unethical hunting practices and offences committed over the last 10 years.”

The release said a Saskatoon conservation officer on a hunting patrol stopped Travis Balone and Nicole Forcier near Wakaw on Nov. 21 of last year. The officer found Balone was unlawfully carrying and hunting with Forcier’s white-tailed deer seal.

“The investigation then led to the pair’s residence, where the officer found two trophy white-tailed deer skulls that had been taken earlier in the season,” the release said. “Both had seals attached, one belonging to Travis Balone and the other to Donna Balone, his mother.

“The officer seized the skull with Travis Balone’s seal immediately, as Nicole Forcier admitted to shooting it. The other skull was seized later when it was confirmed that it was Travis Balone who shot the deer before placing his mother’s seal on it.”

The subsequent investigation turned up other offences. According to the government:

• In 2014, Balone’s father, Miles, shot a trophy bull moose without a licence. Forcier later allowed Miles Balone to attach her draw moose seals to the animal.
• Forcier purchased white-tailed deer licences and entered the Big Game Draw every year since 2012 despite not getting her hunter education/firearm safety certificate until November of 2016.
• On Nov. 20 of last year, Travis Balone hunted a trophy white-tailed buck with help from Miles Balone. Travis Balone failed to field dress and tag the deer and continued to hunt, later attaching Donna Balone’s game seal to the animal.
• Travis Balone and Donna Balone falsified their hunter harvest survey records.
• All of those involved gave false or misleading information to the officer throughout the investigation.

On July 12 of this year, the four hunters pleaded guilty in Wakaw Provincial Court to a total of 18 violations. They were fined a combined $16,960 and received hunting suspensions ranging from one to three years.

Anyone who suspects wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations is urged to call Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn In Poachers and Polluters line at 1-800-667-7561 or call #5555 from a SaskTel cellular device. Violations can also be reported online.