Three Dryden residents have been fined a total of $4,200 for illegal moose hunting.
Edward Smith was fined $2,600 for shooting a moose from a road and being in possession of illegally killed wildlife. He is banned from hunting in Ontario for two years, and the moose was forfeited to the Crown. A firearm and an all-terrain vehicle were also seized and will be returned upon payment of fines.
Lisa and Russell Smith were each fined $800 for being in possession of illegally killed wildlife. They are both banned from hunting in Ontario for one year.
The court heard that on December 4, 2010, the three Smiths were hunting on the Century/Beaverhouse Road southwest of Dryden. They came upon a bull moose. Edward Smith left the vehicle and shot the moose while standing on the road. The moose ran into surrounding bush and was retrieved by the hunting party.
Justice of the Peace Edith Baas heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Dryden, on January 17, 2012.
The ministry reminds hunters that it is illegal to shoot from, down or across a public road. For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2010-2011 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres, from licence issuers and 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).
For more information:
Hunting regulations Ontario
