Russell, Manitoba RCMP are investigating after a rancher reported six of their bison were shot and removed from their farm property located in the RM of Russell-Binscarth.

The report came in on October 14th and the victim said he noticed the locks to the gates of his pasture had been removed and replaced with locks that didn’t belong to him which is when he checked the pasture and realized the bison were missing.

RCMP reviewed numerous trail cameras in the area that revealed four trespassers had driven in with a pickup and several off-road vehicles, they shot the bison and removed them from the property.

The next day the RCMP were notified by the victim that they had found 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 the 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 attended for the hunt and said they were under the impression that the hunt was legitimately organized by the suspect. All three are cooperating with police.

On Wednesday Russell RCMP issued a warrant for the arrest of 52-year-old Gerald Sean Gebler from Portage la Prairie. He has been charged with Theft over $5000 and Mischief over $5000. Later that day, Gebler turned himself in to the Portage la Prairie RCMP. He’s in court January 22nd and RCMP say more charges are likely.

Russell, Manitoba is just over an hour southeast of Yorkton.