A NHL player has been charged after killing a grizzly bear in B.C. He was expected in court Friday morning. While he did not show, his case has now been put over until Nov. 13.
Clayton Stoner, who is from Port McNeil and plays for the Anaheim Ducks, shot the bear two years ago in the Kwatna River Estuary, just east of Bella Bella.
The five-year-old bear was nicknamed ‘Cheeky’ by local field technicians, and was left to rot in a field in the estuary.
Stoner does not deny shooting the bear and released a statement two years ago when a picture was released online of Stoner holding the severed head of the grizzly.
“I grew up hunting and fishing in British Columbia and continue to enjoy spending time with my family outdoors,” said his statement.
“I applied for and received a grizzly bear hunting license through a British Columbia limited entry lottery last winter and shot a grizzly bear with my license while hunting with my father, uncle and a friend in May. I love to hunt and fish and will continue to do so with my family and friends in British Columbia.”
However, he has now been charged with five offences under the Wildlife Act, including hunting without a license and hunting out of season.
Stoner is accused of falsely being a B.C. resident as he plays professional hockey in the United States.
Under the B.C. Wildlife Act a B.C. resident means:
A person who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, and whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia and who has been physically present in BC for the greater portion of each of 6 calendar months out of the 12 calendar months immediately before doing a thing under the Wildlife Act, or if not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, but whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia, and has been physically present in BC for the greater portion of each of the 12 calendar months immediately before doing a thing under the Wildlife Act.
However, two of his charges are knowingly making a false statement to obtain a license.
Hunting grizzlies is legal in British Columbia if you carry a license, but many First Nations groups oppose the practice. The Heiltsuk Nation, and nine other groups that are part of the Coastal First Nations alliance, announced in September 2012 they would ban trophy bear hunting on B.C.’s north and central coast.
“This is an issue that needs to be addressed based on principles, not on reputation or occupation,” said Jessie Housty, a councillor with the Heiltsuk Tribe and member of the Coastal First Nations Bear Working Group, in 2013. “It’s not about letting people off the hook or vilifying them because they’re happen to be high-profile. The important thing is creating dialogue around this issue.”
WATCH: Calls to end the trophy hunt:
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