$50,000 fine, 10-year hunting ban issued after B.C. man illegally hunts wildlife

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a man has been fined $50,000 for illegally hunting and killing wildlife in multiple incidents across British Columbia.

It says in a post to social media that Daniel Gazzola from Maple Ridge, B.C., pleaded guilty in Kamloops provincial court to five counts under the Wildlife Act.

The service says the offences included hunting and killing wildlife not within an open season, namely a female mountain goat accompanied by a kid mountain goat, discharging a firearm within 100 metres of multiple residences, and knowingly making a false statement in a record furnished under the Wildlife Act.

The provincial agency says Gazzola is also banned from hunting, buying a hunting licence or accompanying other hunters in B.C. for 10 years.

He was also required to submit an apology letter to the conservation officer service.

The agency says a $10,000 fine was imposed for each of the five counts, with the majority of the penalty going to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

Gazzola was one of four people charged in connection with the investigation.

The post says Nicole Elie Rogers pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count under the Wildlife Act for allowing her hunting species licence to be used by another person, and she has been fined $7,000 and banned from hunting or buying a hunting license for three years.

It says Cole Rogozinski was sentenced in August and given a $7,000 penalty for knowingly making a false statement in a record furnished under the Wildlife Act.

The service says the fourth individual is scheduled for trial in June 2026.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2025.

The Canadian Press