TV show cast member charged
Another gold miner featured on a reality TV series is facing charges in the Yukon.
Another gold miner featured on a reality TV series is facing charges in the Yukon.
Derek Dodge has appeared on the Discovery Channel series Gold Rush.
He has been charged with three offences under the Yukon’s Wildlife Act in relation to the alleged killing of a black bear in 2016 in Carmacks.
He and Derek Dodge Mining Corp. #313617 are facing a charge of encouraging wildlife to become a public nuisance.
They are also charged with killing a black bear on May 21, 2016 while not authorized to do so, and not reporting it to a conservation officer.
They have also been charged with allowing the bear’s pelt to be wasted.
A spokesperson for Environment Yukon told the Star officials cannot comment on the matter because it is before the courts.
Dodge’s next court appearance on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 18 in territorial court in Whitehorse.
Dodge’s younger brother, Fred, is one of the stars of Gold Rush, and has appeared on the series since season two.
Derek has appeared in four episodes in seasons four and five of the series, working on claims near Carmacks.
According to Discovery’s website, Dodge bought the series of claims in the late 1980s.
Several other miners who have appeared on reality TV programs have also faced charges in the Yukon under various pieces of territorial legislation.
Anton “Tony” Beets, another star on Gold Rush, is appealing fines against his company, Tamarack Inc., totalling $25,000.
They relate to two charges under the Yukon Waters Act and two charges for breach of a water licence.
Beets was also fined $6,000 for two charges under the act in August, but has not appealed the charges.
Kenneth Foy, 44, who previously appeared on the History Television series Yukon Gold, pled guilty in June to three charges under the Yukon’s Placer Mining Act and one charge under the Environment Act.
Last month, he received fines totalling $145,000 for the charges.
And Cam Johnson, another miner featured on Yukon Gold, and No Name Resources Inc., were fined $20,000 after pleading guilty to three charges under the Yukon Waters Act in May.
Comments (14)
Up 2 Down 3
Victor Minerault on May 27, 2021 at 6:28 pm
Please no need to put this show on.
Up 2 Down 4
Victor Minerault on May 27, 2021 at 6:26 pm
To put it short Yukon gold is worthless.
Up 10 Down 7
Ralph on Sep 30, 2020 at 9:36 am
The law is nothing but a money grab! Judges are so happy with infractions that reap a cash reward! If an infraction occurred that actually caused damage then make the offender pay to restore the damage, but to use their self made law as a cash cow is not justice!
Up 7 Down 7
Betty picha on Aug 27, 2020 at 10:25 am
I enjoy watching Yukon Gold, I think it is a great learning tool. I would enjoy going to pan for gold
Up 11 Down 13
RAW and Sons mining on Sep 28, 2019 at 1:52 pm
At what point does one pull the trigger? After a human being has been sacrificed??? Fools, nothing but a bunch of fools who say the man had no right to protect not only himself but other humans in his camp!
Up 17 Down 20
Miles Ocean on Nov 5, 2017 at 1:42 pm
mining usually wins over environmental protection
mining can share the claim area with wildlife to some extent
killing is not the right answer to a bear problem
Up 65 Down 3
Ali on Nov 5, 2017 at 7:48 am
Will he be charged as an adult or a miner?
Up 24 Down 3
Dave Evans on Nov 5, 2017 at 6:29 am
I spoke with a production manager of one of the gold reality shows while having a smoke and waiting for my bags off the plane. I shared how, when he was alive, my father in law would watch these shows and either shake his head or argue with the tv over the shenanigans. The production guy allowed that a smooth running operation made for a boring show.....hence the staged drama and orchestrated difficulties.
Just more pap for the masses in a quest for returns on catering to base instincts of those who believe anything coming out of the talking box.
Incidentally, while fishing in Haines one fall I encountered a southern lady that was convinced that the bears in the river were trained for the tourists' photo ops and allowed that the collars on some of the bears was proof of this. Me explaining that the collars were of the tracking variety and that the bears were indeed wild made little impact on her view that the bears were trained for her viewing pleasure......I left a little stunned at her entitled attitude and straight up audacity to assume it was all more or less a theme park.
City folk, you just know they brush before flushing to avoid their nagging suspicion that the water in the bowl might make its way out the tap.
Up 24 Down 3
Rod on Nov 3, 2017 at 1:39 pm
I worked with Derek this summer running equipment. I remember it well. But Derek honestly hated the reality show and kicked them off his property! I can remember on numerous accounts the bears being right in camp and actually breaking into the cook shack! There was a serious bear problem! I was involved in any bears being shot as I'm a huge animal lover. That being said did our best to keep a clean camp !
Up 31 Down 16
Just Say'in on Nov 2, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Derrick has had virtually nothing to do with the show. He is a longtime Yukon miner and has avoided the show, other then when his brother and another regular were shown at his claim.
This newspaper is revelling in this, and looking for any connections and can't stop bringing up the previous events as they have above. Why do you not connect the dots like this and show all the previous deeds of criminals that roam our streets.
No you wouldn't do that but you love to demonize the placer industry. You better back off you are looking very bad. The Yukon does get a lot of recognition from these shows and many thousands of people want to come up and look around.
Up 65 Down 17
ProScience Greenie on Nov 2, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Can we also charge the networks that brought in these stupid reality shows with something? They're as big a part of it as the actors, err, I mean miners.
Up 42 Down 54
Angry Yukoner on Nov 2, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Thank you reality TV for allowing these people to show everyone the contempt they hold for our ecosystems and wildlife. In case anyone was wondering what placer mining is all about for many if not most miners.
Up 64 Down 16
Thomas Brewer on Nov 2, 2017 at 3:10 pm
I am so sick of Outsiders coming in and disrespecting our environmental and wildlife laws and regulations.
Up 74 Down 14
ralpH on Nov 2, 2017 at 3:01 pm
Again, we are allowing these fools to portray the Yukon as a place where this type of behaviour is common place. Remember the south buys this stuff as gospel. Even once in Dawson city I met a couple in their late seventies looking to invest their life savings in a gold mine. Thought of it as a sure thing because of what they saw on TV. Fools following fools