Two Men Fined Over $10,000 for Moose Poaching Near Thunder Bay
An Amherstburg man was fined $8,000 after admitting to possessing illegally killed wildlife, making a false statement to a conservation officer, and unlawfully using a vehicle to pursue wildlife. His hunting license was also suspended for one year.
The second man, from Guelph, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a conservation officer and was fined $2,500.
Justice of the Peace Bernard Caron heard the case at the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on April 3, 2024.
Graham Dunville, the Thunder Bay area enforcement manager with the Ministry of Natural Resources, stated that while he was not involved in the case, the ministry takes moose population management, detecting illegal moose hunting, and ensuring safe hunting practices very seriously.
“Two of our four priorities in the province are illegal moose hunting and unsafe hunting. So we focus a lot of effort into those two priorities to ensure people are doing things safely and sustainably,” Dunville said.
The court heard that on September 17, 2022, the public reported hearing shots before legal hunting time near Pikitigushi Road. The Guelph man falsely claimed he had shot the moose.
Conservation officers, assisted by the Ontario Provincial Police, determined that the poaching occurred in the dark from the cab of a truck driven by the Amherstburg man. The moose was then transported to a nearby hunting camp. The Amherstburg man later placed his tag on the moose and provided false information to the investigating conservation officer.
Dunville emphasized that the ministry and conservation officers patrol daily to safeguard the public interest against illegal and unsafe hunting activities.
