Social media influencers charged after illegal hunting north of Kamloops

An investigation by the BC Conservation Officer Service has ended with 43 charges against four people, including two social media influencers, for hunting illegally north of Kamloops.

The investigation began in the fall of 2023 when officers responded to a report about shots fired near a cabin in Sheridan Lake near 100 Mile House.

There are four people accused of a total of 43 charges, and two of them are social media influencers who had a backcountry hunting site.

The charges stem from illegal hunts where two stone sheep, two mountain goats, an elk and four mule deer were killed.

“This was a complex case that was investigated for more than a year,” conservation officer Joel Kline said in a media release. “We’d like to thank the public for their prompt reporting to the RAPP line.”

Daniel Gazzola has been hit with 26 charges under the Wildlife Act, including hunting wildlife out of season, unlawful possession of dead wildlife, discharging a firearm in a no-shooting area, hunting without consideration for the lives, safety and property of others and making a false statement. An additional seven criminal charges related to firearm seizures.

Emmanuel Porcellato has eight charges under the Wildlife Act, including hunting wildlife within six hours of being airborne, hunting wildlife out of season and failing to comply with conditions of a species licence.

Cole Rogozinski has five charges under the Wildlife Act, including unlawful possession of dead wildlife, exceeding the bag limit and making a false statement. He also has an additional three criminal charges related to firearm seizures.

Nicole Elie Rogers has four charges under the Wildlife Act, including unlawful possession of dead wildlife and using another person’s licence.

All four are set to appear in court in Kamloops on March 10.

The conservation service said as the case is now before the courts it will not comment further.