Hunter Guilty of Illegal Moose Kill Faces Consequences

October 21, 2023

Marc Wiercigroch of Ayton pleaded guilty to hunting a cow moose without a licence and abandoning the moose, allowing the meat to spoil. He was fined $8,000, had his hunting licence suspended for one year and was required to re-attend the Ontario Hunter Education Program.

The court heard that on October 17, 2022, a conservation officer inspected a moose hunting group returning to southern Ontario in possession of a cow moose and several unfilled tags on the third day of the moose season.

Shortly after contacting the hunting group, the officer received information that a cow moose had been shot and abandoned in the vicinity of Eayrs Lake, northwest of Thunder Bay.

Through the assistance of other hunters, the officer was able to determine Wiercigroch was hunting in the immediate area of the abandoned cow moose.

The investigation led to a search warrant being executed at a residence in Ayton where officers learned that Wiercigroch had been hunting for moose near Eayrs Lake and had mistakenly shot two cow moose when his group had a tag allowing them to harvest one cow moose. Rather than reporting his mistake to conservation officers, Wiercigroch and his hunting party fled the area, allowing the moose to spoil.

Justice of the Peace Nancy Tulloch heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on September 6, 2023.

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/mnrftips.