Over $5,500 In Fines For Hunting Moose From An Off-Road Vehicle
Moose on Hwy 17 near Marathon. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com
Hunting from an offroad . Photo courtesy MNR
Four hunters have been fined a total of $5,560 for offences related to a moose that was illegally shot from an off-road vehicle.
Andre Lemieux of Hornepayne pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm from a vehicle, transporting illegally killed wildlife, failing to wear a proper helmet, and operating an Argo off-road vehicle without insurance. He was fined $1,875 and ordered to permanently remove the hunting apparatus from the roof of the vehicle.
Darlene Gervais of Hornepayne pleaded guilty to enabling someone else to use her moose seal and possession of wildlife illegally taken. She was fined $700.
Alexander Brown of Hornepayne pleaded guilty to possession of wildlife illegally taken and was fined $400.
Francois Lemieux of Hearst pleaded guilty at an earlier court date to discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of wildlife illegally taken and failing to wear a proper helmet. He was fined $2,585 and received a one-year hunting suspension.
Court heard that on December 3, 2011, in Bayfield Township, a conservation officer observed Francois Lemieux riding on a seat mounted on a roof platform of the off-road vehicle, while Andre Lemieux was driving. The officer learned that Francois Lemieux had shot and killed a bull moose earlier that day and that it was sealed with a tag issued to Gervais. Upon investigation, it was determined that Francois Lemieux had shot the moose from the top of the off-road vehicle and that Gervais had given him the seal to attach to the moose. Alexander Brown field dressed the moose and Andre Lemieux transported it to roadside with the off-road vehicle. The moose, a firearm, the vehicle, and a photo memory card were all seized at the time.
The moose was forfeited to the Crown and donated to a local food bank. The firearm, off-road vehicle, and photo memory card will be returned upon payment of the fines.
Justice of the Peace Jean Marie Blier heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Hornepayne, on July 9, 2012.
For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2012 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres, from licence issuers and 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).
