Alberta hiker fined $7,500 for shooting black bear in Jasper National Park

[greatwhite]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/black-bear-shooting-fine-1.6897845


Alberta hiker fined $7,500 for shooting black bear in Jasper National Park
Stephen Cook · CBC News · Posted: Jul 05, 2023 5:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour

Serge Painchaud took a shotgun along while hiking a popular trail with friends


A black bear in some shrubbery.
Serge Painchaud shot a black bear in Jasper National Park. Wardens couldn't find the injured animal. (Dean Cluff/Department of Environment and Natural Resources)

An Edmonton man pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting and injuring a black bear in Jasper National Park last summer.

Serge Painchaud, 42, was fined $7,500 for violating a hunting restriction under the Canada National Parks Act.

According to an agreed statement of facts read into the Court of Justice in St. Albert, Painchaud and two friends started a hike on the Overlander Trail to Mount Colin Centennial Hut on Aug. 6, 2022, a Saturday.

Painchaud had brought along a Mossberg Model 510 20-gauge shotgun and ammunition. He carried the firearm openly.

The trail is popular and the hikers met other people along the way. At some point, Painchaud got tired and turned back alone.

Around 12:15 p.m., while on his way to the Sixth Bridge parking lot, he encountered a black bear and "became scared," according to the agreed statement of facts.

The animal was about 30 metres from him, across a small creek.



Painchaud fired a warning shot into the air. The bear shuddered and then took a few steps toward him.

About five seconds after the warning shot, Painchaud shot the bear.

One of his friends called him after hearing the shots and then contacted Parks Canada as Painchaud said cell service was poor in his area.

Jasper Park wardens found two shotgun shells at the scene, and blood from the bear.

"The black bear was injured from being shot by the defendant," the agreed statement of facts says. "The Jasper Park wardens were unable to locate the black bear after being shot."
Sentencing arguments

The agreed statement of facts notes Painchaud was co-operative at all times.

Crown prosecutor Adam Karbani argued for a fine between $8,500 and $10,000, a two-year firearm prohibition, and 12 months of probation that included barring Painchaud from using a Parks Canada pass.

Karbani said there was a need for deterrence and denunciation and that Painchaud had knowingly brought a firearm into the park on a busy weekend.

"Firearms are not permitted in national parks unless they're being securely transported through the park," he said.

Karbani also noted there was not a lot of case authority in this area.

Defence lawyer Edmond O'Neill took the position that Painchaud should only be fined $4,500 — the minimum required under the legislation. He noted Painchaud had no criminal record or wildlife offences.



He also said Painchaud had saved the court's time through a guilty plea. A trial would have likely centred on whether he was in urgent peril and whether shooting the bear constituted a defence of necessity.

"This was a very triable case," O'Neill said.

Justice Rosanna Saccomani rejected the notion, raised by the defence, that Painchaud's stated fear of bears bore any weight.

"[That] would apply to pretty much every single person in your situation," she said. "We're all afraid of bears."

Saccomani questioned Painchaud on why he had not checked the national parks website for information about carrying a firearm.

"I honestly had no idea that a national park carried different laws than any other Crown land," Painchaud told court.

"I'd done this many times before, just going for a hike on Crown land."

Painchaud was ordered to pay the $7,500 within a year. Items seized during the investigation were forfeited.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Bear spray! Lol

[Birdbuff]

At 30 meters the bear is hardly a threat. It was probably startled as much as the hiker. If that distance closed to within 5 meters, then there’s reasonable cause to shoot and kill if need be. Otherwise warning shots and walking away slowly while facing the bear would have produced a lower fine. I guess it comes down to your comfort zone and your wallet.

[dean.f]

From the facts presented, I think that's a fair outcome.

Hopefully the bear survived it's injuries and wasn't mutilated in the process. It doesn't say what type of ammunition was used.

[trimmer21]

The general rule of thumb is the shooter better be cut,clawed and bleeding before there's any justification for shooting a Bear out of season. Even during the open season,anyone shooting a Bear better be carrying a license and tag. I don't know what that guy was thinking,but,obviously,not much.

[Deer Hunter]

He was probably using birdshot, you would now have a very pissed off and grouchy Bear walking around.

[dean.f]

You'd think a person accustomed to hiking in the wilderness would know you really have nothing to fear from animals unless you are an idiot. Sounds like he just likes carrying a gun to be special. Hopefully the "items seized" included that 20ga.

[greatwhite]

I thought the same thing. thats 90 feet. If the bear was like 10 feet from me then maybe something different.

At 30 meters the bear is hardly a threat. It was probably startled as much as the hiker. If that distance closed to within 5 meters, then there’s reasonable cause to shoot and kill if need be. Otherwise warning shots and walking away slowly while facing the bear would have produced a lower fine. I guess it comes down to your comfort zone and your wallet.

[alfoldivandor]

Did that Guy shoot Bear before ( On legal hunt ...?)

I thought the same thing. thats 90 feet. If the bear was like 10 feet from me then maybe something different.

[Kilo Charlie]

And let's not forget there is a prohibition in effect; you cannot carry firearms in the park. Period. He knowingly violated that law before the incident with the bear occurred.
If you're too too frightened to hike without a shotgun, stay home, or hike where you're allowed a gun.
And if a bear minding its own business at 30 yards panics you....yeah, just stay home.