A Kelowna man has been ordered to pony up a $7,001 fine for hunting down a deer with a crossbow in a residential neighbourhood last year..He’s also prohibited from hunting for six years..The incident took place during the closed season in February 2021 along Lakeshore Road in Kelowna where the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) says the man baited and shot a mule deer buck in an area with homes and nearby walking trails..According to the service the wounded deer ran off and the man, accompanied by two others, was unable to locate it..None of the three individuals reported the injured animal to the BCCOS, which is required under the BC Wildlife Act..The following morning a child found the deer “shot and left to rot” in a flower garden by their residence and called the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline, which then notified the BCCOS..The service said the man pleaded guilty in Kelowna Provincial Court to “hunting without the consideration for the lives, safety or property of others, and the wounding or killing of wildlife out of season,” which are offences under the BC Wildlife Act..The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation will receive the bulk of the fine, and the man was ordered to retake the CORE hunter training program in addition to his fine and six year hunting prohibition..He’s also been ordered to write apology letters to several families and children..“Poaching of any kind, especially in urban areas, is completely unacceptable and in this case endangered the lives and safety of the public,” said Kelowna Conservation Officer Ken Owens..“We hope this notable penalty will deter others from similar activities.”
