Two Men Fined $3,500 for Illegal Deer Hunt
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Two Timmins residents have been fined a total of $3,500 for an illegal deer hunt. Roger Gagnon and Robert Pearce pleaded guilty and were fined $2,000 and $1,500 respectively for discharging a firearm from a roadway.The men are also banned from hunting in Ontario for a year.
The court heard that on November 4, 2012, patrolling conservation officers spotted a wounded fawn on private property beside Split Rock Road, northeast of Fort Frances. The officers stopped and interviewed Gagnon and Pearce, who were travelling in a nearby vehicle. Further investigation turned up seven spent bullet casings from two different guns on Split Rock Road. Forensic firearms analysis determined that the men shot their guns from the travelled portion of the road.
Justice of the Peace Pat Clysdale-Cornell heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on December 13, 2013. Hunters are reminded that it is illegal to shoot from, down or across a public road. They must have permission to enter private land, even if they are crossing private land to reach public land.
For further information on hunting regulations, consult the 2013-2014 Hunting Regulations Summary, available 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).
