MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 16 DEC 04
Contact: Lt. Thomas Courchaine, 906-353-6651
U.P. resident sentenced for killing sow bear and two cubs
State conservation officers today announced the conviction of a
Dickinson County man charged with the illegal killing of a sow bear and
her two cubs.
Homer Dunkas, 73, of Norway, was sentenced Dec. 8 by 95B District Court
Judge Michael Kusz.
Michigan DNR Conservation Officer David Painter, Iron County, led the
investigation, after receiving a complaint about three dead bears that
were discovered near Benton Lake Road, north of Norway.
An anonymous tip led Painter to question Dunkas, who confessed that he
saw the bears come onto his property on or about Sept. 21, 2004. The
defendant went into his house, got a shotgun and shot the sow bear. When
the cubs would not leave the property, Dunkas shot and killed them as
well. He told the officer he then loaded the animals in a truck and
dumped the carcasses in a vacant lot on Benton Lake Road, where they
were found a few days later. Following his confession, a warrant was
issued charging Dunkas with six counts of killing bears out of season
and without license.
Judge Kusz ordered Dunkas to pay $1,500 restitution to the state of
Michigan for each bear, which will be deposited in the Game and Fish
Fund, plus court costs and fines totaling $1,790. He also forfeited the
shotgun used to shoot the bears, lost all hunting privileges until 2008,
was ordered to serve 20 days of community service and will be on
probation for one year.
"These bears were not causing any problems, but if they had been, the
DNR is always ready to assist with nuisance animals," Officer Painter
said. "The need to dispatch problem animals almost never occurs and the
killing of these bears was a senseless, shameful act."
Painter was assisted in the investigation by DNR officers Ryan Aho and
Sgt. Tim Robson.
Anyone with information regarding any crime related to natural
resources is encouraged to call the DNR's Report All Poaching Hotline at
800-292-7800. Information can be provided anonymously.
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Posted by Dave at December 16, 2004 02:13 PM