July 17, 2009
Hunter Convicted For Role In Illegally-Killed Moose
A Thunder Bay man has been convicted of lying to a conservation officer and for his part in illegally killing and possessing a bull moose.
Robert Earley was convicted of offences under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and fined $750 for possessing game taken illegally and $1,000 for providing false information to a conservation officer. He is also not allowed to hunt in Ontario for one year and must complete a hunter education course before being allowed to apply for a hunting licence again.
Court heard that on September 15, 2007, several weeks before the start of gun hunting season for moose in Wildlife Management Unit 13, Earley was hunting game birds with another man. The other man shot a bull moose several times with a 12-gauge shotgun. Some of the shells used were number 8 birdshot, which is prohibited for big game hunting. The moose was transported to a third person’s house, where it was gutted and hung. During the investigation, Earley provided statements to conservation officers which were eventually proven to be false.
On June 3, 2009, the other two hunters were fined a total of $9,250 for their roles in killing and storing the moose.
Justice of the Peace Robert Michels heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on July 8, 2009.
To report a natural resource
violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your
ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers
anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).