5 arrested for night hunting on private field in Swan River, Man.
Officers were patrolling area in response to reports of illegal hunting
Conservation officers arrested five people allegedly caught night hunting in Swan River, Man., Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship says.
The five, members of two separate hunting groups, were caught by officers on one night patrol shift, a news release said.
After receiving reports of people hunting at night, officers set out to patrol Highway 77 near the community of Barrows in western Manitoba on Oct. 21.
Around 11 p.m., they saw a truck shining a spotlight onto a private field while driving slowly. When officers pulled the truck over, they found and seized a rifle, ammunition, a corded spotlight and field dressing tools. Officers arrested the three people in the truck.
Around 1:45 a.m., officers saw another vehicle shining a spotlight onto the same field. Officers stopped the vehicle on the highway and arrested two people for night hunting. The officers seized the vehicle, a rifle, ammunition, a flashlight and a wired spotlight.
A number of charges are pending against all five people arrested, and Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship reminds Manitobans that hunting on private land and night hunting are illegal.