Poachers caught in Mt Thomas forest

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 6

Poachers caught in Mt Thomas forest

Two Rangiora men were each convicted and fined a total of $3OO and ordered to pay costs of $ll7 when they appeared in the District Court at Rangiora yesterday on poaching charges.

Michael Musson and Michael Guthrie, both shearers, appeared before Judge Hattaway. They were separately charged that on December 13 and 14, 1983, they hunted a wild animal on Mount Thomas Forest land without a permit and further charged that they had in their possession an animal, namely a deer, on Mount Thomas Forest land without the authority of the owner of that land.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to the two charges. On the first charge they were each convicted and fined $l5O, ordered to pay court costs of $2O, informant’s costs of $27 and solicitors costs of $25.

On the second charge they were convicted and fined $l5O and ordered to

pay court costs of $2O and solicitors costs of $25. A third defendant, Karen Ann Baker, a bank clerk, of Rangiora (Mr K. G. Hales) also pleaded guilty to the same two charges, but was discharged without conviction. Mr B. Stanaway, who appeared for the Crown, said on December 14 the forest ranger at the forest was told that a spotlight had been seen and shots heard. The ranger and another man went to investigate and had found a car parked in the forest plantation.

“They headed up a road towards the spotlight and met up with two informants who had seen the defendants get a deer on forestry land. About 3 a.m. they apprehended the defendants; and a deer carcase, two rifles, a pack and a spotlight were seized,” said Mr Stanaway. "None of the three defendants held a permit to hunt in the forest. The defendants Musson and

Guthrie are regular hunters and fully aware of the need for a permit.” Mr Stanaway said the informants were particularly concerned at the numbers of poachers entering State Forest land in the Rangiora area and viewed these charges as being serious.

Mr Hales told the court that while the other two defendants were recreational hunters, Baker did not even know how to use a rifle.

She had gone with them “for the walk” and had presumed the other two knew what they were doing, he said.

“The defendant, Baker, is in a situation where she has no option but to plead guilty. This was the first time she had ever gone hunting and she did not for one moment think she may or may not be breaking the law,” said Mr Hales. The Judge ordered the forfeiture of the equipment seized by the forest ranger.