Men fined $6,970 for illegally hunting moose near Elbow, Sask.

Two Saskatchewan men were fined $6,970 in Outlook provincial court for illegally hunting moose near Elbow recently.

The hunters, Craig and WadeHassett, pleaded guilty to four charges under the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act and Regulationsfor allowing a hunting license to be used by another person, possessing wildlife in contravention of theAct, and two counts of allowing edible game to be wasted.

Craig, who is from Saskatoon, was fined $4,760. Wade,who is fromCraik, was fined $2,210. The Ministry of Environment also suspended both men from hunting for one year.

The men were charged following a call to the Ministry of Environment in 2014.

Conservation officers found a dead bull moose that had been shot and left in the area of Elbow, Saskatchewan, about 200 kilometres north-west of Regina.

No meat, antlers, hide, or other parts had been removed from the moose.

The Ministry of Environment said it hopesharsh penalties will deter poachers, and that the public will come forward to help solve crimes.

If you have information about wildlife, fisheries, forestry, or environmental violations, call the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment's Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561 or#5555 for SaskTelsubscribers. You can also report a violation online at environment.gov.sk.ca/tipweb.