James Darin Wiens pleaded guilty this week to shooting from a vehicle, hunting bears with bait and feeding dangerous wildlife. (File photo)
By Lyonel Doherty
Special to the Chronicle
A provincial court judge is weighing several factors in her decision on punishment for an Oliver guide-outfitter who contravened the Wildlife Act in 2016.
This week James Darin Wiens pleaded guilty to shooting from a vehicle, hunting bears with bait and feeding dangerous wildlife. The plea resulted in other Wildlife Act charges being dropped by the Crown.
The 51-year-old outdoorsman is the owner/operator of Vaseux Creek Outfitters, a company that provides hunting excursions for deer, black bear, cougars, elk, wolves and moose.
The charges were laid following a lengthy and elaborate undercover operation in which two conservation officers posed as hunters. The officers witnessed Wiens preparing for a black bear hunt by setting out dog food and cooking grease. A bruin was subsequently attracted to the site and shot (and killed) by one of the officers.
The judge has set aside sentencing for a later date.
Wiens is facing a potential fine and could lose some hunting equipment related to the Wildlife Act contravention. It is not clear if his guide-outfitter licence is also in jeopardy.
