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Beleaguered MLA Derek Fildebrandt is facing two charges under Alberta’s wildlife and trespass acts.

According to court records, Fildebrandt was charged with unlawfully possessing a white-tailed deer and entering land without permission this fall.

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His first court appearance is set for Feb. 2 at Didsbury provincial court.

Fish and wildlife officers received a call around 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4, telling them a deer had been shot on private land without permission from the landowners, a justice department official said.

An officer then went to an alfalfa field near Sundre, 255 km southwest of Edmonton. Fildebrandt was charged, and the deer and a rifle were seized.

When contacted about the charges, Fildebrandt said he was hunting in an area he didn’t know and thought he was on Crown lease land.

Fildebrandt said he found out the land was private after he shot and tagged the deer, and apologized to the landowner. Afterwards, he said, he donated the deer to the local food bank. The justice official said the seized deer was donated by the wildlife officer.