The host of a hunting show who was fined and banned from hunting for a year is suing a B.C. conservation officer for harassment.
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Michel Beaulieu, “hunter, TV personality and a professional businessman,” alleges Wyatt Pile carried out a “malicious, obsessive and compulsive” harassment campaign that led to Beaulieu losing his YouTube channel, sponsorships, clothing deals and equity in his house, according to the lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court.
Beaulieu is asking for $2.4 million in damages in a suit that alleges harassment, including the officer posing as a buyer of his house to try to illegally search it.
The lawsuit alleges Pile’s harassment began in 2020 after Beaulieu illegally shared a hunting tag with his wife during a bear kill. He pleaded guilty in 2024 and was fined $4,500. His wife was fined $2,000 and both were banned from hunting for a year in B.C.
A subsequent two-year investigation by B.C. and Alberta wildlife officers resulted in more than $25,000 in fines against the couple after the seizure of unlawfully killed wildlife from six locations in both provinces, Alberta wildlife officials have said.
In a Facebook post, Beaulieu admitted to the violations but said they had stemmed from ignorance about licence and hunting regulations and not from malicious intent.
After Pile learned of Beaulieu sharing his hunting tag in 2020, he “seemed to become obsessed … and started targeting Beaulieu, looking at all aspects of his life, including but not limited to the videos he uploaded to YouTube through (his company, Alpine) Carnivore,” the lawsuit alleges.
He called Beaulieu several times regarding licence issues and then suggested new charges were possible and that he deserved a longer hunting ban for earlier violations, it alleged.
“There was no justification for these threats … or continued prosecution of Beaulieu,” the lawsuit argues.
“Pile intended to intimidate Beaulieu by continuously alleging baseless charges … and attempting to convince Beaulieu to admit guilt,” and said he would get Beaulieu punished by tougher penalties for violations he’d already been punished for, it alleged.
Pile also obtained a search warrant for Beaulieu’s Kelowna home and office, which alleged the presence of trophies and carcasses, “in an effort to gain evidence of the unlawful killings he obsessed about,” the claim said.
In November 2024, Pile engaged in “unlawful, malicious and vexatious” interference in Beaulieu’s application for a permit needed to transfer his wildlife carcasses and trophies, through an office Pile didn’t work for, insisting they were part of an investigation, it said. He provided no details of the probe, and no investigation existed, it said.
Pile’s actions fell outside the law and was “intended to harm and victimize Beaulieu,” according to the lawsuit.
Beaulieu repeatedly reported Pile to the Conservation Officer Service and the environment minister but received no response, it said. Both the Service and the minister as Pile’s employers are named as defendants.
The lawsuit says Pile’s harassment led to several financial losses because, it alleged, Pile contacted numerous social-media sponsors, podcast hosts and wildlife organizations, calling Beaulieu a poacher.
The losses include $40,000 in publishing revenue for a now-cancelled YouTube show, $120,000 in internet deals with sponsors, $150,000 in clothing deals and $590,000 in lost future growth for Carnivore and Beaulieu, according to the claim.
In September 2024, Pile, who works in Prince George, tried to enter the Beaulieus’ home in Kelowna by posing as a potential buyer, which the lawsuit called a breach of the couple’s Charter rights and for which they are seeking $200,000 in damages.
They are also seeking $325,000 for what they allege are Pile’s defamatory Facebook posts and $200,000 for Pile’s alleged misuse of power of a public office, it said.
The losses include “not less than $1 million” on a quick sale of their house after they were forced to move from Kelowna because of the effect on their well-being, the lawsuit alleged. The couple now lives in Calgary.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
David Karn of the Environment Ministry said in an email it would be “inappropriate to comment” because the case is before the courts.
Beaulieu didn’t return a request for comment.