Hunting/Fishing Charges Laid-Ministry of Natural Resources
$1,400 Fine For Moose Hunting Violations
A Minnesota man has been fined a total of $1,400 after being convicted of offences related to moose hunting.
Anthony Everson of Grand Marais, Minnesota was fined $1,000 for discharging a firearm across the traveled portion of a road and $400 for providing a false statement to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer.
The court heard that on October 27, 2009, conservation officers encountered Everson on Athelstane Lake Road, approximately 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay. Upon investigation, officers determined that Everson had shot across the road at a bull moose, although Everson told officers he had not. The moose was forfeited to the Crown. Everson’s firearm will be returned once the fines are paid.
Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on October 13, 2010.
The ministry reminds hunters that it is illegal to discharge a firearm in or across the travelled portion of a maintained public road.
Careless Hunting and Trespassing Prove Costly
A Lambton County man has been fined $4,000 for careless hunting and trespassing for the purpose of hunting and has had his hunting privileges revoked for more than one year.
William J. Robson of Sombra was convicted of careless hunting and fined $3,000. He was also convicted for two counts of trespassing for the purpose of hunting and fined $500 for each count. In addition, his hunting privileges have been suspended and his firearm was seized during the investigation. Robson must successfully complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course before a new licence will be issued, at which time his firearm will be returned.
Court heard that on December 2, 2009, Robson shot three times at a running deer. At least one shot was fired into dense vegetation and, without a solid backstop, it crossed the St. Clair Parkway towards several residences. As a result, shotgun pellets landed in a tree and a wooden fence near a residential driveway. Robson also trespassed onto private property in pursuit of the wounded deer. When conservation officers located the hunter a few days later, he was once again found to be trespassing for the purpose of hunting.
Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers conducted the investigation with the help of information from the public.
The ministry reminds hunters that it is illegal to shoot from, down or across a road while hunting. Hunters are also reminded that, where entry is prohibited, they must have permission to enter private land, even if the intent is to retrieve harvested game.
Justice of the Peace Calvin Hurst heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sarnia, on October 15, 2010.
$4,700 In Fines For Fish Over-limit
Four Illinois men have been convicted of having an over-limit of fish and fined $4,700.
Randy Welch, Paul Putrich and John Patterson, all of Farmington, and John Maynard of Cuba pleaded guilty and were fined $800 each for possessing an over-limit of walleye. Welch, Putrich and Maynard were also fined $500 each for making a false statement to a conservation officer.
Court heard that while on aerial fisheries patrol on June 23, 2010, officers contacted the group on Smoothrock Lake in Wabakimi Provincial Park, north of Thunder Bay. Each had four walleye – the legal daily catch and possession limit for their sportfishing licences. When officers asked each man if he had additional fish, only one indicated that four more fish were back at their camp. Upon inspection of the camp, officers found an additional 16 frozen, filleted and packaged walleye. A total of 32 walleye were seized from the group and forfeited to the Crown.
Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on October 13, 2010.
The ministry reminds anglers that it is illegal to catch and keep large quantities of fish. An individual may not have more fish than the possession limit of that species. Possession includes storing fish at home, at other locations or in freezers, as well as transporting them and holding them in live wells. In addition, a person cannot knowingly make a false or misleading statement to a conservation officer carrying out duties under the Fisheries Act.
For more information on fishing regulations, please consult the 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary before heading out to fish. The summary is also available at ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres, licence issuers and on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/fishing.
To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free
any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
