$2,500 FINE FOR ILLEGAL BEAR HUNTING

[Some Old Guy 968]

DRYDEN - A California man has been fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to illegal bear hunting.

Joshua Whittaker, 32, of Corona, California, has been fined $1,500 for using a bear licence issued to another person, $500 for hunting bear without a licence and $500 for transporting illegally killed wildlife. He has been banned from hunting in Ontario for a year. The black bears, which had been stuffed and mounted in the United States, were forfeited to the Crown.

The court heard that during the week of August 16, 2004, Whittaker and two other non-resident hunters went to Ignace to hunt black bear with Agimak River Outfitters. One of the hunters returned to the United States. but left her bear tag with the other hunters. On the fourth day of the hunt, Whittaker harvested two black bears. He sealed one with his seal and the other with the seal that had been left behind. Neither licence was valid as they were not accompanied by the required Black Bear Hunting Validation Certificate. As well, Agimak River Outfitters was not a licensed black bear operator. Whittaker transported the illegally killed bears back to the United States.

Whittaker is one of 16 non-resident hunters charged in an investigation involving illegal black bear hunting in the Ignace area. Many have already been convicted and the remaining few have court dates in early 2007.

Justice of the Peace Albert Kast heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Dryden, on December 19, 2006.

To hunt legally, a non-resident must have a Black Bear Hunting Validation Certificate in addition to a Non-resident Black Bear Hunting Licence. As well, bear harvesting by non-resident hunters must be managed by licensed bear operators. Hunters can consult the 2006 Hunting Regulations Summary on black bear regulations for more information. It is available on the ministry's website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html#hunting or from local licence issuers.

To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).