Quebec hunter ordered to pay $20K for hunting snow geese without a permit

Snow geese are seen during their migratory movements at the Reservoir Beaudet, in Victoriaville, Que., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. A Quebec hunter has been ordered to pay $20,000 after hunting the birds without a permit. (Bernard Brault / The Canadian Press) (Bernard Brault/The Canadian Press)

A Quebec hunter will have to pay $20,000 after he pleaded guilty to hunting snow geese without a permit.

A news release from Environment and Climate Change Canada says that Vaudreuil-Dorion resident Joey Proulx pleaded guilty on March 10 to violating the Migratory Birds Regulations and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, “after deliberately hindering the actions of an enforcement officer in carrying out their duties.”

Officials intercepted Proulx and other hunters on March 31, 2023, ECCC said.

“He was hunting snow geese, a migratory game bird species, and did not have a valid hunting permit,” the agency added. “In addition, on March 31, 2023, he deliberately hindered the actions of an enforcement officer in carrying out their duties, by showing an invalid, illegally obtained hunting permit.”

The fine will be paid to Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.

Proulx is also prohibited from applying for a migratory game bird hunting permit and from hunting migratory birds until 2031.

For those wishing to hunt migratory birds, a federal government-issued permit and stamp is required.