THE OWNER of a local guide outfitter business was fined $1,000 for hunting in a prohibited manner.
Robert Aaron Milligan of Milligan Outfitting Ltd,. also known as Coast Mountain Outfitters, pleaded guilty to one charge of use or operation of a snowmobile for the purpose of hunting mountain goats in the local area between November and December 2006.
Of that fine, $900 goes to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund and $100 is payable to the court, says a local conservation officer.
“It’s more the recognition that he’s admitting guilt and did something wrong as opposed to hitting him in the pocketbook,” said north coast zone conservation officer Blair Thin about Milligan’s fine, which he says was a typical amount.
The hunting took place during mountain goat season but the use of snowmobiles is prohibited during that time, said Thin.
“I believe that regulation is in place to permit fair chase of the animals,” he said.
“Basically, it’s a lot easier to hunt mountain goats when you’re on a snowmobile going through the deep snow, so basically the fair chase regulation, which is recommended by our wildlife biologists, is to impede access to these areas by these hunters.”
The investigation of Milligan was done with the assistance of police and the DFO, said Thin.
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