Two men plead guilty to hunting under influence of pot

Two Yorkton men have pleaded guilty to hunting under the influence after being found with marijuana and a loaded gun in their vehicle.

In September, conservation officers from Duck Mountain came across two men in a parked vehicle on Wildlife Development Fund lands near Calder. The area was posted as “foot access only.”

When the officers got closer to the vehicle, they smelled pot burning, so they conducted a hunter compliance check. An unspecified amount of marijuana and a loaded gun were found in the vehicle, according to a government release Tuesday.

Timothy Eashappie, 37, and Colby Barnhardt-peepeetch, 20, recently pleaded guilty in Yorkton provincial court to wildlife charges of hunting under the influence of marijuana.

Eashappie received $1,250 in fines, including for driving with a suspended licence and driving a vehicle on Wildlife Development lands. Barnhardt-peepeetch was fined a total of $1,480, including for having a loaded gun in a vehicle. Both men also received two-year hunting suspensions.

The Ministry of Environment is reminding people that hunting under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and extremely dangerous. Also, Fish and Wildlife Development Fund lands are only accessible by foot, as motor vehicles are not permitted on these lands.

The province asks that anyone who suspects wildlife, fisheries, forestry or environmental violations call the toll-free Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561, or #5555 (Sasktel cellular subscribers), or report a violation online at saskatchewan.ca/tip. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards from the Sasktip Reward Program.