Two Okanagan moose illegally killed; poacher fined

PENTICTON- A judge has imposed stiff fines on an admitted poacher in the south Okanagan.

In June 2014, a cow moose and her calf were illegally shot in the Baldy Mountain area east of Oliver.

Penticton conservation officer Jim Beck says a call to the Report all Poachers and Polluters tip line alerted them to the incident.

They executed a search warrant at a residence and seized the animal carcasses and a rifle.

David Joseph Oscar Martin has now pleaded guilty to hunting without a license, killing wildlife out of season, unlawful possession of dead wildlife and knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer.

The 29-year-old man was fined $2,876 for the four offenses.

He also received a five year hunting suspension and is banned from possessing firearms for 10 years.

At the time, Martin was living in an Indian reserve residence but Beck says Martin has no Aboriginal hunting rights.

The moose meat was provided to the needy.