Outfitter fined for unauthorized hunting
A B.C. man who works in the Yukon as an outfitter was fined $11,500 last week for violations of the territory’s Wildlife Act.
A B.C. man who works in the Yukon as an outfitter was fined $11,500 last week for violations of the territory’s Wildlife Act.
James “Mac” Watson pleaded guilty April 7 to hunting when not permitted and providing a guide for a big-game hunt when not authorized to do so.
The offences took place during two sheep hunts in mid-August 2014 near Primrose Mountain, which is in the territory’s game management zone 7-23.
The hunts saw two sheep harvested by non-residents.
Watson, a 32-year-old resident of Fort St. John, was not allowed to provide outfitted hunts in the zone until Aug. 31. He told the court he’d confused the area with zone 7-25, in which he was permitted to hunt.
Ryan Hennings, Environment Yukon’s manager of enforcement and compliance, said conservation officers (COs) were alerted to the breaches when Watson handed in the forms outfitters must submit after a hunt.
“This particular area is a very important subzone to resident sheep hunters, so to avoid conflict between resident sheep hunters and the outfitters, we restrict the outfitter from hunting in that zone until Sept. 1,” Hennings said.
When approached by COs, “Watson stepped forward and was accountable. He told the court he made a mistake.”
Justice of the Peace Sharman Morrison-Harvey accepted a joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers, and took into account the fact that Watson entered the guilty pleas at his first court appearance.
He was ordered to pay $5,000 per charge to the Yukon’s Turn in Poachers (TIPP) fund, plus a $1,500 surcharge.
The penalty could have been much higher, said Hennings.
Under wildlife legislation, fines for these offences can be up to $100,000.
“These are very serious charges because there’s a commercial aspect to this,” he said.
Outfitters charge tens of thousands of dollars to take non-residents on hunting trips.
The public may report Wildlife Act and Environment Act violations confidentially to the TIPP line at 1-800-661-0525 or www.env.gov.yk.ca/tipp.
Comments (22)
Up 2 Down 0
resident on May 3, 2015 at 8:47 am
Ya I would like to see the harvest numbers, because I hear lots of people saying Mr Watson harvested over 20 sheep but I don't think people know what they are talking about.
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Resident Hunter on May 1, 2015 at 5:26 pm
This is bad news. Residents need to come together and change this before we end up in trouble like in BC. Interested to see harvest numbers for zone 7.
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Sheep Hunter on Apr 22, 2015 at 6:35 am
It's too bad that it's got to this point, because outfitters like Widrig and Dixon and a few others are truly good for The Yukon, as they manage their areas well, as they have had the area for a long time. But they are still members of the Yukon Outfitters Association, and that association speaks with one voice. I support a sustainable, well managed outfitting industry that doesn't conflict with residents and puts conservation values first and foremost. Seems like it's gotten away from these values. So if the YOA wants to go head to head with Yukoners, well, so be it. We'll see how many votes Yukon resident hunters represent compared to outfitters like Mac Watson from BC and others. There is talk of another association to represent, effectively, Yukon resident rights and opportunities, keep your eyes open.
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Another reason the YP has to go!! on Apr 21, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Attention all Yukon Hunters! Whether you are First Nation or not, your hunting rights are going to be compromised if the Yukon Party is allowed to continue to work with outfitters to plan for a regime that gives priority rights to foreigners to hunt Yukon animals for profit.
Up 8 Down 1
Terry on Apr 21, 2015 at 12:24 pm
All righty then<
I have 2 kids, a job and no time to hunt but we all need to wake up. So when are we gonna get together fellow Yukoners? Time is short. The ship may have already sailed.
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YTer on Apr 20, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Here's some questions to ask; why is the YG/taxpayer paying for the RFP mentioned below when the Yukon Outfitters Association put out an identical RFP only weeks before? Why did YG/taxpayer pay for the minister of the environment, Wade Istchenko, to go to the Safari Club party in Vegas this spring? Send the tourism minister, but environment? The minister tasked with administering the wildlife act?
And where is the Yukon Fish and Game association on these issues, and other issues such as air services refusing to fly Yukoners into lakes where outfitters don't want us?
Think outfitters aren't actively trying to keep Yukoners out? What about a certain outfitter in the Ruby range/Aishihik area who actively hunts the front/easily accessible areas of "his" concession first, then moves into the more remote parts after he has worked the front areas hard, or sets up fake camps on lakes to discourage locals from landing, or shows up at the Rifle and Pistol clubs range on Grey mountain with his clients, and just takes over? I wonder if these and other socio-economic issues will be included in the governments RFP?
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Yukon Hunter on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Zone 7 has the highest density of sheep in the Yukon and the most easily accessible. For those reasons it is put on a permit hunt system for resident hunters.... but when I hear of a brand new owner harvesting twenty something sheep in his first season.. it becomes clear there is no intent to manage wildlife or share the area. It is a straight profit based decision.
Watch when the new regs come out, and compare zone 7 resident/non resident sheep harvest numbers from last year to the years before I guarantee the resident numbers will drop considerably.
I'm 100% for sharing an area and the wildlife with outfitters, the problem is they do not reciprocate. If outfitting is becoming less profitable, then the answer is move along. Government should buy back concessions and close them off. Seriously, buy back all concessions not owned and operated by Yukon residents and shut them down... What's so crazy about that? It's not different than saying to residents "no more hunting in subzone 7-28" instead your saying "no more outfitting in concession #12" or whatever.
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Terry on Apr 20, 2015 at 7:59 am
Abe,
The YTG study on outfitter impacts to the Yukon Economy has already been slanted way over to increasing Outfitter take and reducing resident take. It is in the mission statement regarding "with the goal of increasing their contribution to the economy". No rocket science here on how this can be done. Once Outfitters are gifted more game it will be impossible to reduce their take if the locals find it too difficult to compete.
This is going to end badly for Yukoners.
The old time outfitters were our neighbours. This is no longer the case. They are foreigners, who guide foreigners with foreign hired employees and take the money out of the economy when they close up shop in Oct.
Up 10 Down 2
Terry on Apr 20, 2015 at 7:42 am
I believe the Outfitter is ultimately responsible for all activities conducted in his area. If this was a mine the guide wouldn't be the only one charged, the owner would be also. So in this case the outfitter involved has a second serious wildlife offense committed in his name.
I want to know if the sheep and hunt proceeds have been forfeited? Otherwise the fine is simply part of the overhead. There would be 30-40 thousand dollars left in someones pocket. If so, the only real looser would be Yukon Resident hunters. This is only going to get worse I'm afraid.
Up 39 Down 4
Outfitting is so yesterday!!these on Apr 19, 2015 at 11:14 am
This article really sets out the many aspects of outfitting that are so yesterday and an industry that we no longer should endorse as part of our economy.
Think for second people, 95% of the people that shoot our animals come from the states/Europe/Asia. They are taking out the prime breeding stock and are taking way too many animals. Ask yourself why are they coming here to shoot animals? It is because there are none left where they are from!!!
Up 8 Down 1
YTer on Apr 19, 2015 at 8:31 am
Terry
The incident you refer to occurred when Mac Watson owned and operated Yukon Stone. Abe Dougan was the guide who was convicted. Mr. Dougan is still awaiting trial for illegally shooting a Dall Sheep in GM 7 while he was a BC resident.
Up 12 Down 4
Hunter on Apr 17, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Angus
That was from the court transcripts, not the article.
Yukon hunters need to wake up and realize that we have no voice or input on what is happening. Just a few weeks ago, the YP government put out an RFP for a contractor to work closely with Yukon outfitters to demonstrate the socio economic benefits of outfitting here, and how to further grow the industry. The only way to grow the industry is to either increase their quotas in moose etc, or open more areas to outfitting,
Outfitters who have paid in excess of a million dollars for their area, such as Mr. Watson, are needing to hunt "their" areas harder than the old timers such as the Dixons and Widrigs, to make money. These newer outfitters are driving policy with the gov, and Yukon hunters are going to wake up one day and find we are in the same position as BC hunters, fighting to keep their rights. It's too bad it's come to this, because the old time outfitters such as the above mentioned were good for the Yukon and had good relations with residents.
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Angus on Apr 17, 2015 at 3:03 pm
@Hunter, Mr. Watson was not reported by the TIPP line. The infraction was noticed by CO's when the post-hunt forms were submitted.
The only mention of TIPP in the article is a reference to where the funds from the fines would be directed.
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Terry Zanger on Apr 17, 2015 at 8:27 am
Outfitting has become a disgrace. If no sheep were forfeited then the outfitter has managed to still pocket a small fortune over the course of a few days. It there a connection between this outfit and the one that received all the fines for wasted meat, plus other charges last year, last year from Fox Lake area?
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Resident Hunter on Apr 16, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Why is Mac Watson allowed to harvest sheep in this area in the first place? Both of these areas are on draw to residents. If there are not enough sheep to support an open resident hunt then why is it allowed to sell them off to non residents?
The whole sheep quota in the Yukon is suspect and needs to be re visited or there will be some huge confrontation such as what is going on now in BC.
As for him admitting he made a mistake on which sub-zone? Really? There is no way someone who is collecting $20,000-$30,000 for a guided hunt can't read a map and follow the rules set out for his outfit. Give me a break.
Up 14 Down 6
Hunter on Apr 16, 2015 at 5:24 pm
It's on the public record that this incident was reported to the COs over the TIP hotline, which was how it came to be known. How could the outfitter have denied it? Bit of a stretch to give Mr. Watson kudos for being "honest". And give Wade a break, his application was for his wilderness tourism business, had nothing to do with hunting.
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WestofBelfast on Apr 16, 2015 at 5:14 pm
Sheep Hunter: Good points. For anyone suspecting that an airplane is being used for spotting, if you can, maybe by binocs, get the tail sign (letters and numbers usually starting with a C) report the number to the Conservation Officers. Plane can be identified using this and the owner can be questioned.
Up 43 Down 4
Sheep Hunter on Apr 15, 2015 at 7:41 pm
OK, anyone who has ever hunted in GM zone 7 knows that there is a world of difference between sub zone 23 and 25. They are separated by Rose creek, which is a very low sub-alpine valley, while both 23 and 25 are predominately alpine. and, 23 is High Rose lake. Confusing these two smacks of incompetence or something more nefarious.
Up 42 Down 5
Sheep Hunter on Apr 15, 2015 at 6:44 pm
This is also the same outfitter who apparently has been seen spotting sheep in his plane and then calling his guides via satellite phone who are near by on horseback with clients. I think he knew what he was doing, he will still make close to 30k after the fines
Up 40 Down 5
YTer on Apr 15, 2015 at 5:50 pm
One can put a positive spin on this by saying at least he was honest, but, Mac Watson previously owned Yukon Stone, so he is not a newcomer to the industry, the sub zones are very clear, just look at a map.
This, coupled with reintroducing an outfitter to this area, will directly impact Yukon hunters. Indeed, permit holders for this area reported coming back not having seen any Sheep, but lots of horse tracks.
This is so reminiscent of the previous outfitters actions, which resulted in his losing the area.
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Yukon Hunter on Apr 15, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Good job for being honest Mac, mistakes do happen and owning up to them is a class act.
The article doesn't mention if the sheep were seized, which would mean the clients wouldn't have paid the outfitter and the outfitter is truly out $11,500. The issue here is if the sheep were NOT seized, then Mac still collected on the roughly $40,000 for 2 dall sheep hunts, so what's an $11,500 fine mean? You can still profit $28,500 for illegally harvested sheep? That doesn't make sense. Can someone confirm if the animals were seized or not?
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WestofBelfast on Apr 15, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Well at least this guy was more honest than Ryan Leef was when he was charged and certainly more honest than Wade Itschenko (ya...current Minister of Environment) when he was charged with falsifying his guide application.