Gazzola with a goat | Instagram
A British Columbia man and self-described backcountry hunting influencer has been hit with a hefty $50,000 fine and a decade-long hunting ban after pleading guilty to multiple offenses under British Columbia's Wildlife Act. Daniel Gazzola, 33, admitted to a series of illegal hunting activities that conservation officers say endangered wildlife and public safety.
The case, which unfolded in Kamloops provincial court, stems from an investigation launched by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) back in 2023. In true influencer fashion, authorities were tipped off in part by Gazzola's own social media posts showcasing his hunts, which raised red flags about potential violations.
"Social media can be a double-edged sword for those engaging in outdoor activities," said a BCCOS spokesperson in a statement. "While it allows people to share their experiences, it also provides valuable evidence when laws are broken."
In total, our GoPro-wearing internet sensation was up against a myriad of charges based on his brazen illegal exploits. All carefully documented for the world to see on his channel aptly named Backcountry Carnivores, the case had a damn bow on it and only needed Conservation Officers to press on this accused for some answers.
“The digital evidence review alone required specialized forensic services and significant analysis to correlate the GPS data, photographs and videos,” said Crown prosecutor Monica Fras. "Investigators also interviewed numerous witnesses, including neighbours, meat-cutting facility staff, taxidermists and biologists, and co-ordinated expert assessments.”
In time, Gazzola eventually pleaded guilty to five counts, including hunting and killing a female mountain goat outside the open season, while it was accompanied by a kid—a practice strictly prohibited to protect breeding populations. He also pleaded guilty to taking a stone sheep that did not meet the legal requirements for horn curl or age, and he continued to hunt mule deer after exceeding his seasonal bag limit, further violating quotas designed to prevent overharvesting.
Gazzola and a stone sheep | Instagram
Another charge he faced was discharging a firearm in an unsafe manner within 100 meters of multiple residences, after he opened fire in a residential neighborhood in Sheridan Lake. Finally, he pleaded guilty to knowingly providing false statements on records submitted to a cold storage facility or butcher shop.
In addition to the fine—$10,000 per count, with the majority allocated to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for habitat enhancement projects—Gazzola has been prohibited from hunting, purchasing a hunting license, or even accompanying others on hunts in the province for the next 10 years. He was also ordered to submit a written apology letter to the BCCOS, acknowledging his actions and their impact on conservation efforts.
“He was an imposter for his self promotion,” Judge Michelle Stanford said in court on Friday.
This prosecution is part of a broader investigation involving several individuals as well. Nicole Elie Rogers pleaded guilty to allowing her species license to be used by another person, resulting in a $7,000 fine and a three-year hunting ban. Cole Rogozinski was earlier fined $7,000 for making a false statement and a fourth person, Emmanuel Porcellato, faces related charges and is scheduled for trial in June 2026.
Gazzola has not publicly commented on the ruling, and his social media accounts, once filled with hunting adventures, have since gone very quiet amid his tumultuous legal proceedings.
