A man from a Saskatchewan Hutterite colony has pleaded guilty to trafficking wild goose meat.
Provincial conservation officers started an undercover investigation in 2014 after they learned of large amounts of wild bird meat, mainly goose, coming through the butcher shop on the Star City Hutterite Colony located about 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
After giving the store manager verbal and written warnings about federal and provincial laws prohibiting the sale of wild meat, conservation officers discovered the meat was still for sale.
Conservation officers went undercover to visit the Star City Produce and Meat Shop five times between 2014 and September 2017 and were able to buy goose meat each time.
David Tschetter, 56, pleaded guilty to five charges under the Migratory Bird Convention Act for trafficking wild meat.
He has been ordered to pay a fine of $11,500 and to process 350 pounds of seized wild goose meat into sausage for food banks in the Melfort area.
In a news release, the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Environment reminded the public that selling wild meat is illegal under provincial and federal legislation but noted that illegal dealers are prevalent on social media sites.
“It is a practice that threatens local wildlife populations and steals opportunities away from legitimate hunters,” the news release said.
People who suspect violations are encouraged to report either to their local Ministry of Environment office or by calling the Saskatchewan turn in poachers line at 1-800-667-7561 or online www.saskatchewan.ca/tip.