Saskatchewan residents fined over $17K for illegal hunting after photo of deer posted online

Three Saskatchewan residents are facing a total of $17,240 in fines for illegal hunting activity the province says was discovered after a photo of a deer was posted on social media.

Three Saskatchewan residents are facing a total of $17,240 in fines for illegal hunting activity the province says was discovered after a photo of a deer was posted on social media.

According to the province, in November 2023 Moose Jaw conservation officers saw a social media post that included multiple photos of a woman posing with an untagged white-tail deer buck.

Investigators soon found more pictures of the same person with other wildlife, including an untagged white-tailed deer doe, the province said.

In early December, Moose Jaw and Regina conservation officers executed a search warrant at a rural residence where they seized guns, animal trophies, wild game meat and hunting seals.

As a result, a Marquis, Sask. woman was convicted of four counts of unlawful hunting and one count of providing false information to an officer, a news release said. That resulted in a fine of $13,020 and a three-year licence suspension, the release said.

Marquis is located about an hour west of Regina.

A Moose Jaw woman was also convicted of unlawful possession of wildlife and providing false information to an officer, which the province says landed her a fine of $3,220 and a two-year licence suspension.