Disregard For Hunting Laws Results In Fines

[Some Old Guy 968]

Violating Ontario’s hunting laws has cost several Ontario residents a total of $9,000.

In the first incident, John Chretien of Pickering pleaded guilty to hunting bear without a licence and was fined $1000. Pierre Brouzes of Hearst pleaded guilty to unlawfully attaching a seal to a bear killed by another person and fined $500. A firearm was also seized by conservation officers.

Court heard that on September 27, 2010, in Abbott Township, Chretien unlawfully harvested a black bear without a valid black bear hunting licence. Brouzes then attached his bear seal as if he was the person who harvested the animal.

In a separate case, Mattew Yukich and Ryan McMillan, both of Sault Ste. Marie, pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm from a motorboat. The men were fined $1,000 each. In addition, Aron Yukich, also of Sault Ste. Marie, pleaded guilty to possessing a moose that had been unlawfully harvested and was fined $500. A firearm was also seized by conservation officers.

Court heard that on October 9, 2010 conservation officers, acting on a tip from the public, determined that a moose had been shot from a motorboat by the accused. It is illegal to possess or discharge a loaded firearm in or on a motorboat, with an exception while hunting migratory birds in accordance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act. The incident occurred in Derry Township, south of Hearst.

In the final case, Alain Pineault of Opasatika pleaded guilty to hunting moose without a seal and failing to attach a validation seal as required by hunting regulations. He was fined $4,000 and $1,000 respectively.

Court heard that conservation officers determined a moose had been shot by Pineault on October 11, 2010, in McCrea Township, east of Hearst, without the proper validation tag.

In all cases, the illegally harvested animals were seized by conservation officers.

Justice of the Peace Jean-Marie Blier heard the cases in the Ontario Court of Justice, Hearst, on November 23, 2010.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reminds the public that conservation officers enforce the laws and regulations that protect our natural resources from abuse. Hunters are encouraged to review the 2010 Hunting Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/hunting or speak to a conservation officer before going into the field to ensure a full comprehension of all hunting laws