A 52-year-old British Columbia man was charged $4,500 after he pled guilty to possessing elk antlers that he found in Jasper National Park.
According to the crown, on March 15 a remote camera alerted park wardens that someone had picked up a set of marked elk antlers.
Upon arriving 30 minutes later at the undisclosed location, Park Wardens found a man and woman with a dog in the area.
After a brief discussion, the man showed the wardens where the antler was, but after examining it park wardens quickly determined it was not the same marked antler that they had placed.
Upon further investigation and a search of the area, park wardens found four other antlers under a tree covered by pine boughs, including the one that was marked.
Under the National Parks Act it is illegal to hunt, traffick or possess any wild animal in a national park.
As a result, Peter Schuelle, was fined $4,500 after pleading guilty to contravening the Canadian National Parks Act. A second charge for willfully obstructing a public officer in the execution of his duty was withdrawn by the Crown.
According to his defence lawyer, Schuelle is a part-time taxidermist in Vernon, B.C. A full head mount for an elk costs $1,500 according to his website.
Paul Clarke
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