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Thursday, November 15,2007  
 
FIVE people accused of night hunting and crashing their vehicle trying to escape Conservation officers face fines of up to $50,000 and forfeiture of their truck.  
 
The incident took place overnight Saturday near Glenboro, 160 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.  
 
The five males - including two youths - face charges of hunting at night with lights, hunting on private land without permission, failing to stop for a peace officer and possession of illegally killed deer.  
 
"When officers tried to apprehend them with red and blue flashing lights and sirens, they failed to stop," said Rob Dean of the operations division of Manitoba Conservation. "There was a short pursuit.  
 
"At one point they pulled into a field and shut off their lights. Officers were driving behind them."  
 
The night hunters gunned their vehicle and crashed trying to go from the ditch up to the roadway, said Dean.  
 
"Some people were hurt. We did take them to the hospital in Glenboro.  
 
"One had a broken leg."  
 
Dean said the names of the adults accused won't be released until the investigation is complete and all the charges have been laid.  
 
Dean wouldn't said how many natural resources officers were involved in the operation, but there were "several" ground units and at least one officer in a surveillance aircraft.  
 
Night hunting is a problem at this time of year, endangering farmers and their property, Dean said.  
 
"What happens, generally in the fall - especially in October and November - we start to get public complaints from rural residents about night hunting activity in the vicinity of homes and farms," said Dean.  
 
"We put the surveillance units where we've been receiving complaints," he said.  
 
People complain about hearing shots fired close to their farms and lights in their fields, which are used by illegal hunters to attract and spot the deer.  
 
"Rural residents don't like this activity one bit," said Dean.  
 
"They have their homes, livestock and investments in fields they don't want people driving around on. Safety is the biggest concern." he said.  
 
That's why night hunting using spotlights is one of the most serious offences in the Wildlife Act.  
 
The maximum fine is $50,000, but typically is closer to $2,000, Dean said.  
 
Conservation relies on the rural public to report night hunting and poaching, and has a toll-free number to call: 1-800-782-0076.  
 
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca