$6,500 in Fines for Illegal Bear Hunts
Black bear in the brush along Hwy 614 near Manitouwadge, ON. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com
Two Shillington-area men have been fined a total of $6,500 for bear hunting offences.
Martin Alford pleaded guilty and was fined:
- $500 for failing to immediately attach his seal to a bear,
- $1,500 for unlawfully possessing wildlife,
- $2,500 for abandoning the flesh of three bears.
He also received a suspended sentence for failing to complete the mandatory black bear hunter questionnaire.
Thomas Alford pleaded guilty and was fined:
- $500 for failing to immediately attach his seal to a bear
- $1,500 for hunting bear without a licence.
He also received a suspended sentence for providing false information on the mandatory black bear hunter questionnaire.
Court heard that conservation officers began an investigation after receiving information about two separate bear hunts. Officers determined that on September 1, 2012, Thomas Alford killed a black bear in Currie Township and failed to attach his seal to it. In a separate incident on September 29, 2012, Martin Alford and Thomas Alford, while hunting together, killed three black bears in McCart Township. Martin Alford failed to attach his seal to one of the black bears. Thomas Alford killed two of the bears without a valid licence. Martin Alford then abandoned the flesh of all three black bears.
Justice of the Peace Sylvie-Emanuelle Bourbonnais heard the case for Martin Alford on November 27, 2014, while Justice of the Peace Monique Mechefske heard the case for Thomas Alford on January 22, 2015, both in the Ontario Court of Justice, Timmins.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 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).
