A McKellar man was found guilty of careless hunting and has been fined $1,500.

Richard Johnston has been banned from possessing, applying for or obtaining hunting licences for a period of one year. In addition, he cannot apply for a hunting licence until he successfully completes the Ontario Hunter Education program.

The court heard that on December 5, 2011, Johnston was hunting deer with a number of other individuals in Haldimand County, east of the Town of Dunnville. Without due care and attention to the location of the other members of his hunting party, he fired three shots at a white-tailed deer using a 20-gauge shotgun loaded with slugs.

The first of the three shots hit a member of his hunting party in the thigh. Justice of the Peace Richard Kivell, who heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Cayuga, on November 26, 2012, pronounced the sentence on March 4, 2013.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reminds hunters that they must a lways be sure of their target, use an appropriate backstop and consider other people and property in the vicinity prior to shooting a firearm.

For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2012-2013 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).