MNR levies stiff fines for violations

News Release
MNR

A southern Ontario man has been fined $7,000 for illegal hunting.
Raffaele A. Franconeri of Woodbridge pleaded guilty to moose hunting without a licence.
Court heard that on October 10, 2010, Franconeri was hunting with six other people, west of Ignace. The hunting party was licensed to harvest one adult bull and one adult cow moose. Members of his hunting party killed the two moose for which they were licensed, but Franconeri shot and killed another adult bull moose and left it behind. Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers were alerted to the abandoned moose by another hunting party and determined that Franconeri had intentionally shot the animal and left its carcass to spoil.
Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Ignace, on August 3, 2011.
Individual hunters are only permitted to harvest a moose for which they possess the appropriate tag. Hunters who mistakenly shoot a moose to which they are not entitled are encouraged to contact a conservation officer immediately.
An Ear Falls man was fined a total of $6,000 for having too many fish in his possession.
Jocelyn Huot pleaded guilty under the Ontario Fishery Regulations to having more than the legal limit of walleye and northern pike.
The court heard that in June 2010, conservation officers received complaints from the public regarding an angler who fished in the same spot below the Ear Falls hydro dam several times a day over a one-week period. On June 17, 2010, Huot was contacted by a conservation officer at the Ear Falls dam. Huot had with him his limit of walleye and one northern pike. As a result of the public complaint, the officer questioned Huot about his recent fishing activities. It was determined that Huot had more fish at his residence. A search of his Ear Falls residence revealed an additional 31 walleye and 16 northern pike. Huot was licensed to possess only four walleye and four northern pike.
Justice of the Peace Marjorie Pasloski heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Red Lake, on July 26, 2011.
A southern Ontario man has been fined $2,000 for offences related to illegal moose hunting.
Frank Muli of Burlington pleaded guilty and was fined $1,000 for moose hunting without a licence and $1,000 for allowing the carcass to spoil.
He is not allowed to hunt in Ontario for two years.
Court heard that on October 19, 2010, Muli was hunting for an adult male (bull) moose with four other hunters in the Upsala area, approximately 140 kilometres west of Thunder Bay. Muli told a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer that after he spotted a bull and cow moose together in the same area, he fired four times at the bull moose and it ran down a road and died. Muli advised the officer that as he and his hunting party were field dressing the bull moose, they noticed a dead cow moose about 30 metres away. The hunting party then concealed the cow moose carcass with logging debris and left the area. The group reported the abandoned animal to the ministry the next day, after the moose meat had spoiled. Muli possessed one moose hunting tag, which was for a calf.
Justice of the Peace Bernard Caron heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on August 3, 2011.
Individual hunters are only permitted to lawfully hunt an adult male, adult female or a calf depending on the moose tag they possess. Hunters who mistakenly shoot a moose to which they are not entitled are encouraged to contact a conservation officer immediately.
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).