by Art Jones
There are some deer in Saskatchewan who have their sights set on people who hunt illegally. Well they aren't real deer, they are models of deer, known in Saskatchewan Environment "legal speak" as controlled wildlife models.
The life-like models of game animals and, in some cases, birds are one of the tools conservation officers use to catch people who are poaching or who are hunting in a way that puts the public in danger. That might include things such as shooting from a vehicle, night hunting, hunting out of season, taking too many animals, hunting in protected areas or hunting protected species. Most of the American states and several Canadian provinces have been using them since the 1980s to catch poachers.
The models are only used in areas where a wildlife population is being affected by illegal hunting or where there have been complaints from the public about illegal or unsafe hunting. Officers have to receive permission from their supervisor before using a model and the model must be placed in a manner that does not pose a safety threat to the conservation officers or the public. For example the model could be set up in front of a hill so any shots that miss would hit the ground behind the model.
"One of the most common things we encounter when we use a wildlife model is people who shoot from a vehicle or along or across a road or hunt at night," says Doug Lucyshyn of Saskatchewan Environment.
"Aside from the fact that shooting from a vehicle or across a road is illegal it is also dangerous to other people. Using lights to hunt is also dangerous and illegal. The person shooting can't see what they may hit if they miss the animal and the animal itself is "frozen" by the lights and really doesn't have a chance. The vast majority of hunters are ethical and honest however, a few can make all hunters look bad. Using the models is one way we can catch these people and others who break the law."
There are several wildlife models currently in use in Saskatchewan.
Conservation officers take them to a location where there have been previous reports of illegal activity and set them up. The officers then stake out the site, waiting for someone to come along, mistake the model for a real animal and take a shot at it.
One of the most common wildlife models conservation officers across North America use is a male or buck white-tailed deer, which is sporting a nice "rack" or set of antlers.
"While poachers will key in on a deer with a good set of antlers they really don't appreciate the animal they are hunting. They are only interested in the money the antlers can bring on the illegal market," says Environment's Lucyshyn.
"When people poach trophy deer they are stealing from law-abiding hunters and everyone else in the province. In most cases the animals they target are the biggest and, over time, the loss of these animals could hurt the overall health of the deer population. That's because poached deer simply don't have a chance to pass on their superior genetics."
Taking a shot at a wildlife model can be expensive. The Wildlife Act allows for a fine of up to $100,000 and the possibility that the hunter's equipment could be seized and sold by the Crown.
For more information contact:
Doug Lucyshyn
Conservation Officer
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 933-8377
dlucyshyn@serm.gov.sk.ca
Or
Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca
There are some deer in Saskatchewan who have their sights set on people who hunt illegally. Well they aren't real deer, they are models of deer, known in Saskatchewan Environment "legal speak" as controlled wildlife models.
The life-like models of game animals and, in some cases, birds are one of the tools conservation officers use to catch people who are poaching or who are hunting in a way that puts the public in danger. That might include things such as shooting from a vehicle, night hunting, hunting out of season, taking too many animals, hunting in protected areas or hunting protected species. Most of the American states and several Canadian provinces have been using them since the 1980s to catch poachers.
The models are only used in areas where a wildlife population is being affected by illegal hunting or where there have been complaints from the public about illegal or unsafe hunting. Officers have to receive permission from their supervisor before using a model and the model must be placed in a manner that does not pose a safety threat to the conservation officers or the public. For example the model could be set up in front of a hill so any shots that miss would hit the ground behind the model.
"One of the most common things we encounter when we use a wildlife model is people who shoot from a vehicle or along or across a road or hunt at night," says Doug Lucyshyn of Saskatchewan Environment.
"Aside from the fact that shooting from a vehicle or across a road is illegal it is also dangerous to other people. Using lights to hunt is also dangerous and illegal. The person shooting can't see what they may hit if they miss the animal and the animal itself is "frozen" by the lights and really doesn't have a chance. The vast majority of hunters are ethical and honest however, a few can make all hunters look bad. Using the models is one way we can catch these people and others who break the law."
There are several wildlife models currently in use in Saskatchewan.
Conservation officers take them to a location where there have been previous reports of illegal activity and set them up. The officers then stake out the site, waiting for someone to come along, mistake the model for a real animal and take a shot at it.
One of the most common wildlife models conservation officers across North America use is a male or buck white-tailed deer, which is sporting a nice "rack" or set of antlers.
"While poachers will key in on a deer with a good set of antlers they really don't appreciate the animal they are hunting. They are only interested in the money the antlers can bring on the illegal market," says Environment's Lucyshyn.
"When people poach trophy deer they are stealing from law-abiding hunters and everyone else in the province. In most cases the animals they target are the biggest and, over time, the loss of these animals could hurt the overall health of the deer population. That's because poached deer simply don't have a chance to pass on their superior genetics."
Taking a shot at a wildlife model can be expensive. The Wildlife Act allows for a fine of up to $100,000 and the possibility that the hunter's equipment could be seized and sold by the Crown.
For more information contact:
Doug Lucyshyn
Conservation Officer
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 933-8377
dlucyshyn@serm.gov.sk.ca
Or
Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca
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