Three Drayton Valley residents are among three other Albertans and two non-residents who have pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the province’s Wildlife Act.
In January 2024, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services began investigating an illegal cougar hunt connected to Byron Stewart, owner of Tracks N Trails Outfitting in Drayton Valley. Investigators found that a resident hunter, guided by the company, killed a male cougar after the season had closed.
Through their investigation, fish and wildlife found evidence of 11 illegal guided hunts across the province, eight of which involved non-resident hunters, and three of which involved Alberta residents. Officers executed search warrants in B.C. and Alta., leading to the seizure of 11 cougar skins and skulls, along with five Canada lynx skins.
Following the investigation and search, Drayton Valley residents Byron Stewart, Cindy Stewart and Devin Hyde; Kitscoty resident Jody Janzer; DeBolt resident Luke Viravec; Worsley resident Garrett Patton; and non-residents Joshua Owens, of Texas, and Arnold Compton, of Missouri, all pleaded guilty to 13 offences.
Most offences involved illegal hunts for cougars and Canada lynx across Alberta, as well as offences for hunting cougars after the season had closed, possessing illegally harvested wildlife, using prohibited electronic calling devices during hunts and hunting without valid licences.
The convictions resulted in $135,500 in fines and a combined 18.5 years of hunting prohibitions and related court orders.
Alberta government officials commented on the case: “Illegal hunting undermines wildlife conservation and management efforts in Alberta. It can contribute to overharvesting, negatively affect wildlife populations and reduce hunting opportunities for law-abiding hunters through quotas and shorter hunting seasons.”
Anyone with information about suspicious hunting or fishing activity is asked to contact the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800 or report online. Reports may be made anonymously and may qualify for a reward.
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