R. v. X.X. – 2025 – 9171

Allegation

Conservation officers charged X.X. with unlawfully hunting on private land without the landowner’s consent, contrary to section 41(1) of The Wildlife Act, 1998 (Saskatchewan). The charge arose after officers received reports that X.X. and several others had been hunting elk in rural Saskatchewan. The group was initially asked to leave one private property in the R.M. of Antler. Later that same day, they allegedly crossed into a second parcel—again without permission—and harvested two elk. Officers claimed the accused then loaded the animals and transported them to a separate location to be processed.

Statements from witnesses, GPS mapping data, and field notes from conservation officials were all used to support the charge. Although this was not a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, it was a quasi-criminal regulatory prosecution with serious implications. Offences under provincial wildlife legislation are treated seriously in Saskatchewan, particularly when tied to deliberate trespass and the harvesting of big game.

Convictions for this type of offence typically trigger automatic hunting suspensions or cancellations for extended periods—sometimes five years or more. In some cases, individuals can be barred from hunting across multiple provinces due to interjurisdictional agreements. The consequences go well beyond a fine. For lifelong hunters or those who depend on subsistence harvests, the impact can be devastating.

Result

Charges withdrawn.