Amherstburg man, Guelph man fined for reported moose hunting incident

An Amherstburg man was fined and saw his hunting license suspended after pleading guilty in a recent court case.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the Amherstburg man pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife, making a false statement to a conservation officer and unlawfully using a vehicle to pursue wildlife. He was fined $8,000 and had his hunting licence suspended for one year.

A Guelph man pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a conservation officer and was fined $2,500.

The MNR states the court heard that on Sept. 17, 2022, information received from the public led conservation officers, with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police, to begin investigating reports of a moose shot early that morning. Shots were heard before legal hunting light in the vicinity of the Pikitigushi Road, east of the community of Armstrong.

According to the MNR, the investigation determined that a bull moose was shot on the Pikitigushi Road in the dark from a moving vehicle. The moose was transported back to a hunt camp nearby.

The investigation also revealed that the Amherstburg man was driving the truck at the time the moose was shot from its cab. He later placed his tag on the moose and provided false information to the conservation officer investigating.

The court also heard that the Guelph man gave false information to a conservation officer by claiming he was the one who shot the moose, the court heard.

Justice of the Peace Bernard Caron heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on April 3, 2024.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.

For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrtips.

Amherstburg man, Guelph man fined for reported moose hunting incident