6 men charged with illegal outfitting near Battlefords, Sask.

Six men have been charged with illegal hunting and outfitting after a year-longinvestigation nearNorth Battleford, Sask.

Officials with the province's environment ministry sayundercover officers from the United States booked hunts with an outfitting business called Rezz Raxx based on the Red Pheasant First Nation. The investigation was started in response to concerns about increased illegal hunting practices in the area

The undercover operation resulted in a slew of charges against the six men, fromillegal outfitting to use of a search light.

Together, they face more than $55,000in fines.

The menare also prohibitedfrom hunting anywhere but on their own First Nation and only for their own food.

Six men facing a total of more than $55K in fines

• Lawrence Lee Meechance, 39, was fined $17,900 for outfitting without a licence, aiding and abetting unlawful hunting near North Battleford, falsifying an export permit application and driving without a driver's licence.
• Robin D. Wuttunee,38, was fined $12,510 for unlawful hunting near Landis, use of a search light for hunting, unlawful hunting and hunting on posted land near Kindersley, guiding without a licence and driving without a driver's licence.
• Tyrone Adam Cuthand, 32, was fined $10,470 for guiding without a licence near Battleford, unlawful hunting near Sonningdale, using a search light for hunting near Maymont, driving without a driver's licence and falsifying an export permit application.
• Dennis Kennedy,27, was fined $3,150 for aiding and abetting, carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, guiding without a licence near Battleford, hunting on posted land near Landis, unlawful hunting near Ruthilda and driving without a driver's licence.
• Stephen A.D. Armstrong,28, was fined $10,000 for unlawfully hunting and hunting on posted land near Kindersley, unlawful hunting near Golden Prairie, using a search light for hunting near Gull Lake and guiding without a licence near Battleford.
• Gregg John Shawn Meechance, 28, was fined $1,120 for falsifying an export permit application.