BC man handed $10K fine and 15-year hunting ban for killing a grizzly bear

After a tip and a years-long investigation, a man in the Elkford area of BC has been convicted for the killing of wildlife not within open season.

Guofeng Li was recently sentenced in the Fernie provincial court for the killing of a grizzly bear.

Li was handed a $10,000 fine, a 15-year hunting ban and forfeited his rifle.

In the spring of 2020, the BC Conservation Service initiated an investigation after receiving a tip from the public regarding the killing of bears over bait.

“A year-long investigation concluded in June 2021 when conservation officers apprehended Li shooting a surrogate (decoy) black bear at the site where bait had been placed,” explained a social media post by the service.

“The investigation revealed Li had shot and killed a grizzly bear at the bait site and harvested parts from the bear.”

With the evidence gathered in the investigation including search warrants executed on Li’s truck and cell phone, a successful conviction was made.

A majority of the fine will go towards the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for wildlife improvements in the Elk Valley.