Four elk have shot and left on Vancouver Island have the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) looking to the public to help track down those responsible.
Two elk were killed and abandoned, while two others had the meat harvested. Leaving harvestable game meat in the field is a punishable offence under the Wildlife Act.
B次元官网网址淭his is quite concerning now,B次元官网网址� says Scott Norris, sergeant with the COS on the South Island. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unacceptable behaviour.B次元官网网址�
For 30 years, a moratorium on hunting elk was in place across the province, allowing the population to rebound, and as a result, there was B次元官网网址渧ery little harvesting going on,B次元官网网址� Norris says.
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Those who qualify for what is called a limited entry hunting draw are the only hunters other than local First Nations communities with agreements in place with the province, who can legally hunt elk.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 frustrating for us to deal with this,B次元官网网址� says Norris, whose officers found the carcasses in the Cowichan Valley, Campbell River and on the south end of Mesachie Lake, all within the last two months.
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Elk donB次元官网网址檛 run off like deer, he explains, because they donB次元官网网址檛 have the same fear of humans. B次元官网网址淵ou can get quite close to them so that makes them easy pickings.B次元官网网址�
The COS relies on tips from the public B次元官网网址� like the one received Sunday about the fourth elk found at Mesachie Lake B次元官网网址� in order to tackle illegal hunting behaviour. Reporting can be done anonymously through the RAPP form on their website, or by calling 1-877-952-7277.
Elk have been increasingly spotted in Sooke and along the west side of the Island out to Port Renfrew, and fines for breaking the law can run anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 and can include the seizure of vehicles, hunting guns or other equipment, B次元官网网址渄epending on how it goes through the court system,B次元官网网址� says Norris.
B次元官网网址淭here are various people who think for whatever reason, they can take elk. But there is a long term detrimental impact to the population if this behaviour continues.B次元官网网址�
@kristyn_anthony
kristyn.anthony@blackpress.ca
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