The November 2011 general hunting season in the Sundre-Olds district has been more or less typical when it comes to violators and violations, says Fish and Wildlife officer Adam Mirus.ìAre we having good compliance? No,î said Mirus. ìIt's kind of status quo from last year. There's illegal activity going on everywhere and we are just trying to keep up with it, catch up with it.îFor example, officers have found many cases of hunters being pulled over and found to have their guns improperly secured, he said.ìWe are seeing the same number of loaded firearms (in vehicles) that we see every fall. We are seeing illegal hunting on occupied land. And we are investigating cases where rifle shots are close to fishermen, people fishing on the ice.îOfficers have been responding to about a dozen landowner complaints of illegal hunters on their properties every week in November, he said.ìTypically a landowner is working in his yard or in his house and he hears a gunshot so he goes outside and there's guys trying to load a deer or vehicles going up and down the road,î he said.Officers have seen an increase in the number of public tips reporting poachers compared with last year, he said.ìWe are seeing lots of landowners going out and trying to record a licence plate and trying to take photos,î he said.ìIn one case we had one landowner come up to the poachers and say, ëI've already called Fish and Wildlife' and the guys jumped in the back of their truck and grabbed a deer and threw it on the ground and took off.îAlthough the general deer hunting season ends Nov. 30, a number of other seasons, include some special seasons for elk, run until the end of January.Residents and visitors are encouraged to call in suspicious activities to the Report-A-Poacher hotline throughout the winter, he said.ìIf you see anything out of the ordinary, like an unknown vehicle parked in the driveway and that kind of thing, they should call in,î he said.The Report-A-Poacher hotline number is 1-800-642-3800.
