Mr. Edwards didn't draw a moose licence this year. But he always carries his rifle into the woods. He saw a moose while he was checking his rabbit snares. It was a nice-sized bull moose. The animal was in close range. His family would be glad to have the meat during the winter. The temptation was too great. Mr. Edwards shot the moose and hauled it out of the woods. The officers caught him as he was putting the animal into the back of his truck.

Mr. Edwards knew that what he was doing was against the law. But he didn't think he'd get caught. Wildlife officers didn't use to patrol his community so often. Mr. Edwards believes every Newfoundlander that needs a moose for the winter should be allowed to take one. "Poacher" is a word he uses for people who kill more moose than they can eat. A poacher is someone who kills an animal for fun and leaves the meat to spoil in the woods. Mr. Edwards believes killing a moose just for a trophy is wrong. Sports hunting shouldn't be allowed as long as there are local people who need the meat, he says.

Mr. Edwards doesn't want anyone to know his real name or the name of the small village where he lives. It already appeared once in the local newspaper. Even though he says he didn't do anything wrong, Mr. Edwards feels shame about being in jail. No one in his family has ever been behind bars. He has always seen himself as a law-abiding man. He just wants to do his time quietly and then go back home to his family.

Frank McCarthy

Frank McCarthy broke the law and he doesn't care who knows about it. In July 1994, the 49-year-old inshore fisherman from Too Good Arm, Notre Dame Bay became the first Newfoundlander in history to be charged for jigging a few cod to feed his family.

Frank brings his small wooden boat to a stop. It's cold on the water today. But Frank doesn't mind. It's good to be out of the house. Frank drops his jigger over the side and starts pulling for cod. Just a few months earlier Frank was arrested for jigging on this very spot.

The inshore fisherman remembers every minute of that day. It changed his life forever. Frank had been out on the water for several hours when he saw the DFO boat. He knew they'd seen him when they turned and started "sneaking" in around the cove.