Five individuals have been convicted and fined nearly $40,000 in total for illegal moose hunting actions in northern Ontario, as announced by the provincial government. This followed a comprehensive two-year investigation that took place from 2020 to 2022, focusing on unlawful hunting practices near Pickle Lake.
The investigation, spearheaded by conservation officers and the Ministry of Natural Resources, revealed that one of the convicted men, hailing from Mississauga, illegally shot a bull moose from a motorboat on the Otoskwin River. He admitted to the violation, resulting in a $20,000 fine and a three-year suspension of his hunting privileges.
Another member of the group was fined $2,000 and given a two-year suspension for invalidating his hunting tag, while the remaining three were penalized for making false declarations to conservation officers. Their fines ranged from $2,000 to $6,000, accompanied by one-year suspensions.
The total penalties, factoring victim surcharges, amounted to $37,000 plus an additional $9,250. The government emphasized that these convictions reinforce its commitment to enforcing hunting regulations and protecting moose populations.
