Paddle
swinging
walleye
killers:
Barrhead
District
A
group
of
three
anglers
came
under
the
watchful
eye
of
an
observant
member
of
the
public
at
Lac
Ste.
Anne
on
June
4,
2006.
Their
illegal
actions
were
called
in
to
the
Fish
and
Wildlife
Division’s
Report
A
Poacher
hotline
and
to
a
field
officer
who
intercepted
the
trio
leaving
the
lake.
The
three
men
were
observed
fishing
from
a
boat
near
the
Val
Quentin
area
of
Lac
Ste.
Anne.
Over
a
short
period
of
time,
the
witness
saw
each
of
the
men
land
walleye
and
kill
them
with
a
paddle.
The
three
men
left
the
area
and
headed
for
the
public
boat
launch
at
Alberta
Beach.
When
they
noted
a
member
of
the
Alberta
Conservation
Association
approaching
the
boat
to
conduct
a
creel
survey,
they
quickly
turned
their
boat
around
and
returned
to
the
area
where
they
had
been
fishing.
One
of
the
men
was
dropped
off
on
the
shoreline
along
with
the
fish
and
fishing
equipment.
The
others
headed
back
to
the
public
boat
launch
and
loaded
the
boat,
after
which
time
they
returned
and
picked
up
their
buddy,
fish
and
fishing
gear.
A
short
time
later
the
vehicle
was
stopped
by
an
officer.
The
driver
admitted
to
fishing,
but
claimed
he
did
not
keep
any
fish.
The
two
others
stated
they
weren’t
fishing.
When
the
officer
asked
the
driver
if
there
were
any
fish
in
the
vehicle,
he
stated
that
there
were
not,
adding
that
he
had
fished
the
lake
for
many
years
and
knew
that
the
walleye
limit
on
the
lake
was
zero.
He
consented
to
a
search,
which
produced
five
walleye
from
under
the
closed
lid
of
the
spare
tire
compartment.
None
of
the
men
possessed
sportfishing
licences.
On
June
22,
2006,
Anthony
Loughlean,
29,
Ruslan
Lechkevitch,
29,
and
Boris
Vaynsheteyn,
19,
all
of
Edmonton,
appeared
before
a
Traffic
Commissioner
in
Stony
Plain
provincial
court
and
plead
guilty
to
several
charges.
Loughlean
was
handed
a
total
of
$2,500
in
fines
and
a
three-year
sportfishing
licence
suspension.
Lechkevitch
and
Vaynsheteyn
were
each
assessed
$1,000
in
fines
and
three-year
sportfishing
licence
suspensions.
Fines
totaled
$4,500
and
9
years
of
fishing
suspensions.
Lac
Ste.
Anne,
located
approximately
35
miles
west
of
Edmonton,
was
classified
as
collapsed
in
1997,
and
has
been
steadily
recovering
as
a
result
of
the
zero
catch
limit
for
walleye.
The
lake
has
one
of
the
highest
records
of
public
complaints
in
the
province
relating
to
noncompliance
of
fisheries
legislation.
Hunting
privileges
abused:
Sundre
District
On
Sept.
7,
2006,
a
Calgary
man
appeared
in
Didsbury
provincial
court
to
answer
to
12
charges
stemming
from
four
illegally
killed
elk.
Brian
Dwight
Bamlett,
35,
entered
guilty
pleas
to
four
counts
of
hunting
wildlife
during
a
closed
season
and
as
a
result
was
handed
$6,000
in
fines
and
a
four-year
recreational
hunting
licence
suspension.
On
Feb.
14,
2004,
Sundre
Fish
and
Wildlife
officers
received
information
regarding
four
illegally
killed
elk
in
the
Eagle
Creek
Sanctuary.
Officers
attended
the
location
and
identified
kill
sites
of
four
elk.
All
four
animals
were
killed
within
the
boundaries
of
the
sanctuary.
It
is
unlawful
to
hunt
within
400
yards
of
the
road,
however,
the
officer
learned
that
the
elk
were
killed
at
66,
190,
210,
and
295
yards
from
the
road.
The
investigation
led
officers
to
the
residence
of
Vince
Stanley
in
Calgary,
where
a
search
warrant
was
executed.
They
discovered
the
four
illegal
elk
hanging
in
the
garage.
All
four
animals
along
with
packaged
elk
meat
from
a
freezer
were
seized.
A
statement
from
Stanley
revealed
that
he
drove
Bamlett,
a
Treaty
Indian,
to
the
Ya
Ha
Tinda
Ranch
located
west
of
Sundre.
Both
men
noted
a
large
sign
at
the
entrance
of
the
sanctuary.
In
addition,
they
were
advised
by
the
ranch
manager
and
ranch
hand
that
no
one,
including
Treaty
Indians,
could
hunt
in
a
road
corridor
sanctuary.
Bamlett
disregarded
that
information
and
shot
the
four
elk.
The
seized
elk
were
taken
to
a
butcher
on
Feb.
15,
2004,
where
they
were
skinned
by
the
butcher
and
investigating
officers.
It
was
noted
that
the
front
halves
were
spoiled.
On
June
20,
2005,
Vince
Stanley,
65,
appeared
in
Didsbury
provincial
court
and
entered
a
guilty
plea
to
one
count
of
allowing
the
edible
flesh
of
big
game
to
be
wasted.
Stanley
was
given
a
$1,200
fine.
![](photo/notebook.JPG)
A
Fish
and
Wildlife
officer
and
butcher
inspect
the
seized
elk
meat.
It
was
later
discovered
that
some
of
the
meat
had
spoiled.
We
invite
wildlife
and
fisheries
enforcement
officers
from
all
jurisdictions
to
submit
current
and
significant
cases
for
inclusion
in
The
Notebook
segment
of
this
publication.
Details
of
case
files
can
be
sent
to:
Email:
gamewarden@wtc.ab.ca
or
ALBERTA
GAME
WARDEN,
Jeremy
Lindsay,
Box
690
Smoky
Lake,
AB
T0A
3C0
All
details
must
be
accurate
public
record.
Photos
are
welcome.
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