$50K fine, 10-year ban issued after B.C. man illegally hunts wildlife

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a man has been fined $50,000 for illegally hunting and killing wildlife in multiple incidents across British Columbia. 

It says in a social media post that Daniel Gazzola from Maple Ridge, B.C., pleaded guilty in Kamloops provincial court to five counts under the Wildlife Act.

The service says the offences included hunting and killing wildlife not within an open season, which included a female mountain goat accompanied by a kid mountain goat.

They also included discharging a firearm within 100 metres of multiple residences, and knowingly making a false statement in records filled out at a cold storage or butcher shop.

Gazzola also pleaded guilty to unlawfully continuing to hunt mule deer beyond the limits he was allotted.

The provincial agency says Gazzola is also banned from hunting, buying a hunting licence or accompanying other hunters in B.C. for 10 years. 

He was also required to submit an apology letter to the conservation officer service. 

The agency says a $10,000 fine was imposed for each of the five offences, with the majority of the penalty going to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. 

Gazzola was one of four people charged in connection with an investigation by conservation officers.

Another person was fined $7,000 and banned from hunting for three years for allowing her hunting species licence to be used by another person.