2 men and a company charged over ‘unlawful hunting’ in B.C. ecological reserve

A B.C. Conservation Officer Service truck is seen in this undated image. (BCCOS/Facebook)

Two men and a company have been charged with a variety of offences in connection to a B.C. Conservation Officer Service investigation in the province’s northwest.

The BCCOS said in a post on social media this week that it had “recently concluded” an 18-month investigation into “unlawful hunting within the Gladys Lake Ecological Reserve."

Charges were laid Jan. 29 against Spatsizi River Outfitters Ltd., Michael Gilson and Shawn Gilson, the service said, noting that the charges were for alleged violations of both the B.C. Wildlife Act and Ecological Reserve Regulations.

The BCCOS did not list all of the charges in its post, saying only that Michael Gilson and the corporate defendant are each facing three charges under the regulations and seven under the act, while Shawn Gilson is facing three Ecological Reserve Regulations charges and 15 Wildlife Act charges.

Online court records show the three regulations charges are all for the same offence—namely engaging in an unpermitted activity in an ecological reserve—and apply to all three accused. The first instance allegedly occurred on Aug. 2, 2023, the second on Aug. 4, 2024, and the third on Aug. 7, 2024.

Seven of the Wildlife Act charges apply to all three accused, according to court records. Those charges are five counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a guide outfitter licence and two counts of hunting wildlife out of season. The offences allegedly occurred as long ago as August 2022 and as recently as August 2024.

Shawn Gilson is charged with eight additional Wildlife Act offences that were not laid against Michael Gilson or the company. Those offences are four counts of unlawful possession of dead wildlife and four counts of providing a false statement in written form. The offences allegedly occurred in October 2022 and October 2024.

None of the charges have been proven in court.

The Gilsons made their first appearance in Williams Lake provincial court on Feb. 25. Online records show their next appearances are scheduled for April 1.