Enforcement Checks Lead To Hundreds Of Charges
Southwest Region MNR Enforcement Blitz
Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers laid 204 charges and seized close to 30 illegally hunted animal carcasses during recent enforcement checks in southwestern Ontario.
The targeted area covered all counties south and west of Lake Simcoe and included some islands in Georgian Bay. The enforcement checks were timed to coincide with the opening of the rifle and controlled deer hunting seasons.
From November 1 to November 7, 2010, conservation officers checked close to 2,400 hunters and found almost 400 violations. The officers laid 205 charges and 176 warnings. A number of investigations are ongoing and further charges are expected.
Charges were laid for a range of offences, including:
- Having a loaded firearm in a vehicle
- Unlawful possession of a firearm at night
- Hunting without a licence
- Trespassing to hunt
- Failing to attach game seals
- Careless hunting.
Special emphasis was placed on safe hunting practices and wearing the required hunter orange. Some hunters wore less than the required minimum area of orange clothing, or none at all. Hunters were also found with loaded firearms in their vehicles, or had discharged firearms from a motor vehicle. Officers also found hunters using firearms at night.
For more information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2010-2011 Hunting Regulations Summary available from licence issuers, ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres and on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/hunting.
To report a natural resources 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 anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
