Josh Centers 02.21.22
Two contestants from season 3 of History’s Alone are in hot water with Canadian authorities. Zachary Fowler, winner of season 3, and Greg Ovens, who survived on the show 51 days, have been charged with illegal fishing, hunting in a national park, discharging a firearm in a national park, cutting down live trees, shooting gophers, and unpermitted use of a drone. Each is facing a fine of up to $110,500 USD.
The two filmed a 30-day survival challenge in Banff National Park in 2019, resulting in an over two-hour movie published to YouTube last year. The video has had over two million views and is what ultimately got the duo in trouble with Canadian authorities.
“We’re not denying that we were there doing these things. I mean, it’s obvious in the videos, but it’s just the principle that they don’t do anything to let the public know when they change the rules,” Ovens told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Ovens said they had fishing licenses but didn’t know that the park had a catch and release policy. Out of all the charges, the most severe are for catching and retaining Yellowstone Cutthroat trout.
While Ovens has already appeared in court, it seems like Fowler is on the lam, despite still posting YouTube videos. Ovens says he plans to fight the charges and claims he didn’t hunt in the park, but did light a fire and boiled stinging nettle tea.
The lesson here: ignorance of the law is no excuse. It’s your responsibility to check with national park authorities and tell them your plans before visiting, especially if you plan to do things like cutting trees, hunting, and fishing.
Fowler made his claim to fame on Alone by bringing a homemade slingshot, along with 30 half-inch steel balls, which he painted pink so they were easy to recover.
