FORT FRANCES – Crimebeat – Two Devlin men have been fined a total of $2,700 for not following party hunting rules while moose hunting. Allan Jerry was fined a total of $1,950 for hunting big game without a licence and providing a false statement to a conservation officer. His firearm was seized and will be returned upon payment of the fines.
Gordon Hyatt was fined $750 for unlawfully attaching a game seal to a bull moose. The moose was seized and forfeited to the Crown.
The court heard that on October 15, 2011, Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers were told that Jerry’s hunting party had shot a bull moose on October 9. The officers contacted Jerry, who initially said the party had not shot a moose. When contacted again by the officers, Jerry said he had killed a bull moose and it had been tagged with Hyatt’s seal.
After further investigation, the officers determined that the hunters were not acting in accordance with party hunting rules, which require members to be in communication with one another and not to hunt at a distance greater than five kilometres from the tag holder.
Justice of the Peace Pat Clysdale-Cornell heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on March 23, 2012.
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).