R. v. X.X. – 2025 – 2461

Allegation

X.X. was charged under Alberta’s Wildlife Act after conservation officers alleged he unlawfully harvested and possessed an antlerless mule deer without a proper hunting licence. According to Alberta Fish and Wildlife enforcement records, officers claimed that X.X. submitted a harvest report indicating he had killed a mule deer using only a general licence—a tag that does not permit the harvesting of antlerless mule deer in most Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). Investigators reviewed tag records, visited the accused’s residence, and ultimately seized the packages of processed meat, alleging they came from an unlawfully taken animal.

The Crown proceeded with two quasi-criminal charges:

Hunting wildlife without a licence, contrary to section 24(1) of the Wildlife Act
Unlawful possession of wildlife, contrary to section 55(1) of the Wildlife Act

These charges are not criminal in the strict sense but carry significant regulatory consequences. A conviction can result in thousands of dollars in fines, a lengthy recreational hunting suspension, forfeiture of wildlife and gear, and lasting damage to a hunter’s record and privileges in Alberta and other provinces. The seriousness of these penalties makes representation by an experienced hunting lawyer critical in such cases.

Result

Sean Fagan intervened early, navigated the disclosure process, and negotiated a resolution that avoided a conviction or hunting suspension. The matter was resolved without any cancellation of hunting privileges, protecting X.X.’s record and right to hunt in Alberta.