KAWARTHA LAKES-The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry seized 33 Moose, laid 107 charges and issued 232 warnings over a nine-day period in southeastern Ontario.
The Ministry says from October 20 to October 28, 2018, conservation officers checked 3,973 hunters in the Bancroft, Parry Sound and Pembroke areas. Officers were checking for compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and associated regulations, paying particular attention to hunter safety and moose sustainability issues.
Charges and warnings were issued for:
shooting from, along or across a road
having a loaded firearm in a vehicle
night-hunting related offences
not wearing proper hunter orange
trespassing for the purpose of hunting
failing to wear a proper helmet on an ATV
not having a lifejacket or safety equipment on a boat
hunting moose, white-tailed deer or migratory birds without a licence
failing to immediately seal a moose
failing to immediately seal a deer while party hunting
harvesting a moose without the appropriate licence
hunting moose and white-tailed deer in the closed season
using lead shot to hunt migratory birds
failing to leave a fully feathered wing on a migratory bird for identification purposes
providing a false statement to a conservation officer
having open liquor in a vehicle
driving an off-road vehicle without insurance
Officers also seized 33 moose that were harvested illegally, as well as two firearms.
In addition, 17 investigations are ongoing related to hunter safety, moose sustainability, and chronic wasting disease.
To report a natural resources violation, call the ministry TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 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). And visit Ontario.ca/mnrftips to view an interactive, searchable map of unsolved cases you may be able to help solve.