Michigan hunters face thousands in fines for poaching Canada geese, ducks

Emma Keith
Detroit Free Press

Eight southeast Michigan hunters are facing thousands in fines for allegedly poaching Canada geese and mallard ducks during the 2018 hunting season. 

A New Baltimore court ordered the men to pay a total of $18,500 in fines — $2,312.50 per person — for species protection, illegally harvested birds and court costs. 

They are:

  • Joseph Fettue, 60, Chesterfield
  • Ronald Perreman, 55, Clinton Township
  • Geoffrey Regulski, 58, Roseville
  • Giovanni Salvatore, 54, Oakland
  • Jeffrey Soulliere, 58, Harrison Township
  • Mark Soulliere, 55, Chesterfield
  • Michael Soulliere, 22, St. Clair Shores
  • Ryan Stateler, 24, Roseville

The men pleaded guilty to taking geese beyond their bag limits and failing to retrieve shot game, which is illegal.  

Michigan's bag limits for Canada geese are three per person. The hunters took 33 geese in total, putting them nine birds over their allotted total. 

An anonymous tipster tipped off Michigan's Department of Natural Resources about the potential poaching case last year, complaining that a large amount of geese had been dumped at a private Chesterfield pond.   

DNR officials surveilled and apprehended the alleged poachers after watching them shoot about 20 geese, place some geese in a pickup truck bed and continue hunting, according to a DNR statement.

After initially denying taking more than their limit, the hunters admitted that they had hidden 12 geese in the pickup truck and gathered 21 more near their hunting blind.  

“This was an important case that required a lot of follow-up in court,” DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler said in a statement. “Southeast Michigan is an important waterfowl resource to the state and region. I commend the anonymous tipster who reported this complaint. Because of good citizens like this, our officers can help preserve game for deserving, fair hunters.”

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