Conservation officers issued a warning to would-be target shooters after a recent rise in the number of calls related to the activity in the Squamish area.
Discharging firearms is prohibited inside District of Squamish boundaries, Cst. Simon Gravel off the B.C. Conservation Officer Service wrote in an email to The Chief on Tuesday (Nov. 13).
As well, empty shell casings are considered litter and leaving them behind is an offence under the Environmental Management Act, Gravel wrote, adding that the regulation "is strictly enforced by the Conservation Officer Service."
"Many hikers and anglers [have] expressed some concerns regarding this activity on Crown land," he wrote. "Officers would like to remind the public that the practice of target shooting should be executed with extreme care and in respect of all legislation."
Meanwhile, conservation officers had a busy weekend, conducting angling and hunting compliance checks on the Mamquam, Squamish and Cheakamus rivers and issuing a handful of tickets. Among the charges laid was one for discharging litter, which carries a fine of $115, failing to produce motor-vehicle insurance ($81), and failing to produce a licence to an officer ($115).
To report suspected environmental, angling or hunting violations, please call the Ministry of Environment's 24-hour Report All Poacher and Polluters line at 1-877-952-7277.
