THUNDER BAY – A Niagara Falls area man has been fined for hunting violations. James Doherty pleaded guilty and was fined $1,500 for shooting from the traveled portion of a provincial highway, and $250 for failing to wear hunter orange while hunting.
Court heard that on October 21, 2017, conservation officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Thunder Bay Enforcement Unit conducted a moose decoy operation adjacent to Highway 811 north of Thunder Bay. The decoy was set up to target unsafe hunting practices and address party hunting violations.
After observing the decoy, Doherty exited his vehicle and discharged his firearm at the moose decoy while standing on the traveled portion of the highway. Doherty was not wearing a hunter orange garment at the time he discharged his firearm.
Justice of the Peace Bernard Caron heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
The ministry reminds the public that it is illegal and unsafe to shoot from, down or across a public road when hunting and that hunters are required to wear a hunter orange garment while hunting big game.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF 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 provide information that will help solve a case.
