$7,000 in Fines for Illegally Hunting Waterfowl
Three men have been fined a total of $7,000 for offences under the Migratory Birds Regulations.
Zachary Break of Oro-Medonte and Mark Seehaver of Burlington pleaded guilty to depositing bait within 14 days of the open season for migratory birds, hunting over bait, hunting migratory birds without a migratory game bird hunting permit and hunting with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. Each man received a fine of $2,500.
Stephen Langtree of Gravenhurst pleaded guilty to hunting over bait, hunting migratory birds without a migratory game bird hunting permit and hunting with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. He was fined $2,000.
Each man also received a one-year hunting suspension.
Court heard that within two weeks of the open season for ducks, Break and Seehaver placed bait on a pond in Ryde Ward, Town of Gravenhurst. On September 19, 2015, Break, Seehaver and Langtree were found hunting ducks over the bait. As well, no one was in possession of a migratory game bird hunting permit and each of their shotguns was capable of holding more than three shells. The decoys and ducks were seized and forfeited to the Crown.
Justice of the Peace Renee Rerup heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Bracebridge, on February 9, 2016.
For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/hunting.
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).
