Investigators from Mezhgorye, acting with prior consent, completed the inquiry into illegal hunting conducted by a group of individuals. The defendants identified in the case are two residents from the Burzyansky district. The events unfolded in the forest near the village of Baigazino on December 11, 2022, and resulted in criminal charges framing a hunting incident as poaching of protected wildlife.
According to the investigation, the two men, aged 54 and 38, ventured into the woods despite being refused permission to hunt. They carried 12-gauge shotguns and located a male bear that was in a state of hibernation. The men proceeded to shoot the animal, an act that drew swift attention and ultimately triggered criminal liability due to the unlawful nature of the conduct and the protected status of the bear.
The pair began to skin and attempt to cut the carcass, an action that was interrupted when officials conducting a raid against illegal forest exploitation caught them in the act. The moment of arrest is noted as a decisive point in the case, with officers documenting the illegal handling of forest resources and the unlawful killing of wildlife.
Following a period of cooperation with investigators, the defendants, who had previously pleaded guilty to the charges, saw the criminal case forwarded to the court for formal adjudication. The proceedings reflect ongoing efforts to enforce wildlife protection laws and to prosecute offenses involving the illegal taking of animals and the related violations of forest regulations.
In related regional reporting, another bear incident was noted in which a hunter in the Irkutsk region was fatally wounded by a bear. The animal subsequently died from injuries sustained in the confrontation, and the hunter’s body was recovered two days after the encounter. This case underscores the dangers associated with hunting and wildlife encounters, as well as the importance of adherence to legal hunting practices and safety protocols. [Source: press office SU IC of Russia for the Republic of Bashkortostan, with customary attribution to regional investigators]