The owner of a central Alberta outfitter called Tracks N Trails along with 7 others have plead guilty to the offences of illegally hunting cougars and lynx across Alberta.
In January of 2024, Alberta Public Safety and Emergency services said in a media release that Fish and Wildlife officers had begun investigating an illegal cougar hunt, led by Byron Stewart, the owner of Tracks n Trails.
During this hunt, a provincial resident killed a male cougar out-of-season.
Officers then discovered 11 illegal hunts that been held, which led to the issue of search warrants, where investigators found 11 cougar skulls and skins, and 5 Canada lynx skins.
The offences include hunting cougars after the season had closed, possessing illegally harvested wildlife, using prohibited electronic calling devices during hunts and hunting without valid licences.
The convictions resulted in $135,000 in fines and a combined 10.5 years of hunting prohibitions and court orders.
Anyone with information about suspicious hunting or fishing can report activity to the Report a Poacher service by phone at 1-800-642-380 or online.
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