Manitoba cracks down on illegal night hunting, arrests 7 people

Seven people have been arrested in two cases of illegal night hunting in western Manitoba.

Social media posts about big game animals killed in that areaof the province this fall prompted conservation officers to conduct patrols in the region, says a news release from the Manitoba government.

A ground patrol was organized on Dec. 9 after the remains of two illegally killed elk were foundsouth of Shilo. Conservation officers from several detachments in southwestern Manitoba took part and around11:15 p.m., a vehicle was seen approaching the area.

Soon after, a spotlight "consistent with night lighting" was seen, the release states.The vehicle was ona dead-end road and officers blocked it in.

Three men were arrested and their vehicle, a 2002 Ford F-150, was seized. Three rifles, a spotlight and other hunting gear was also taken.

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Then onDec. 11, a night patrol involving conservation officers, a canine unit, a municipal police officer and spotters in an aircraftwas organized.

Early on the morning of Dec. 12, officers in the aircraft noticed a vehicle northwest of Glenboro using a spotlight.Ground patrol units were directed to the area but when officerssignalledfor the driver of the vehicle to stop, it sped off.

Officers in the aircraft kept an eye on the vehicle and directed ground units, and the driver of the suspect vehicle lost control around a curve in the road and drove into asnow-packed ditch.

Four men were arrested and a 1995 GMC truck was seized. Conservation officers also tooktwo rifles and other hunting gear, a spotlight, one freshly killed deerand a set of illegal brass knuckles.

Reeve applauds enforcement

Archie McPherson, the reeve of the RuralMunicipalityofPipestone, said night hunting and spotlighting are both issues right across southwestern Manitoba.

"Everybody is concerned ... fortheirownsafety," he said. "[I've heard]reports from various ruralresidentswaking upthoroughthe night or early in themorningand hearing gunshots going off."

In spotlighting, a hunter shines a powerful and focused artificial light into the eyes of animals such as moose, elk and deer, causing the prey to stop moving and therefore making it easier for them to be killed.

"Wildlife don't have much chance when there's a spotlight put on them in the dark," he added.

"I applaud the conservation officers for doing their job and apprehending these subjects," said McPherson. "The people that are doing it are certainly aware that it's illegal and it's dangerous so enforcement and stiffer penalties [are] certainly a must."

The investigations into both cases are ongoing and charges are expected to be laid at a later date.