CADOMIN – Four central Alberta men were recently convicted of illegally hunting bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountain foothills.
Last September, the group of hunters entered the former Gregg and Cardinal River mine sites near Cadomin and illegally killed at least four bighorn sheep, including a sublegal ram.
This area has been closed to hunting for over 40 years, Alberta Fish and Wildlife said on Facebook.
The investigation included the analysis of DNA samples by the Fish and Wildlife Forensic Lab and analysis of bullets by the Provincial Firearms Examination Lab operated by Edmonton Police Service and ALERT.
Both labs made conclusive DNA and ballistic matches that tied the individuals to the kills, Fish and Wildlife stated.
Charges included hunting without a licence, wastage of wildlife, trespass and unlawful possession of wildlife.
On May 7, the four men pled guilty in Hinton court for unlawful possession of wildlife, receiving $26,000 in fines and one-year hunting prohibitions each.
Anyone who suspects a wildfire violation is asked to call the Report-A-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 or report online.
Cadomin is located around 50 kilometres south of Hinton.
