A Campbellford man has been fined $3,333.58 for careless hunting that resulted in the shooting of a dog. He also paid $1,666.42 in veterinary bills before his court appearance.

Robert Goudreault pleaded guilty to the charge of careless hunting. In addition to the fine, his hunting licences have been cancelled until he completes an accredited Hunter Safety Course and passes the exam.

The court heard that in March 2012, Goudreault was hunting coyotes from a tree stand in Stirling-Rawdon Township, north west of Belleville.

He had a high-powered rifle equipped with a scope. Goudreault was watching a coyote decoy from about 125 metres away when he saw a large animal with yellow-white fur charge the decoy. Without taking due care to verify his target, Goudreault shot the dog believing it to be a white wolf.

On further investigation by the conservation officer, it was found to be a white Akbash dog belonging to a local resident.

Justice of the Peace Deanne Chapelle heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, in Belleville, on December 11, 2012.

Hunters must always be sure of their target, and what lies beyond it, before putting their finger on the trigger.

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 officer during regular business hours.

You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).