On October 14, 2024, at approximately 1:55 pm, Russell RCMP received a report of 6 bison having been shot and removed from a farm property, located in the RM of Russell-Binscarth.
Officers attended and met with the victim who advised he noticed the locks to the gates of his pasture were removed and replaced with locks that did not belong to him. A further check of the pasture revealed that 6 bison were missing.
A review of the numerous trail cameras setup in the area revealed that four trespassers, who drove in with a pickup and several off-road vehicles, had shot the bison and removed them from the property.
The following day, RCMP were notified by the victim that they had located a social media ad online which had been advertising a bison hunt for $1000 per animal at this location. The victims, who were the legal owners of the bison, did not place this ad. The victim did state that they had posted to social media advising of the theft and received numerous responses, including from several of those who had shot the bison.
Investigators were contacted by the three parties, who had originally responded to the add and attended for the hunt, who advised they were under the impression that the hunt was legitimately organized by the suspect. All three witnesses are cooperating with police.
On October 16, 2024, Russell RCMP issued a Warrant of Arrest out for Gerald Sean Gebler, 52, from Portage la Prairie, who was charged with Theft over $5000 and Mischief over $5000 in relation to this incident. Additional charges are likely. Later that day, Gebler turned himself in to the Portage la Prairie RCMP where he was later released for court scheduled for January 22, 2025, in Russell.
Russell RCMP continue to investigate.