Bancroft area hunt camp members fined $30,000 for moose poaching
Eight men belonging to a Bancroft area hunting camp and charged with 35 offences have been fined a total of $30,000.
The eight men, members of the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp, pleaded guilty to numerous offences under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act related to poaching moose off the Old Hastings Road in the Township of Faraday.
Lionel Towle, of Whitby, pleaded guilty to killing a bull and cow moose without the authority of a licence, possessing and transporting the illegally killed animals, making a false statement to a conservation officer, and displaying a void licence. He was fined a total of $9,000 for these offences, his rifle was forfeited to the Crown and his hunting licence was suspended for two years.
Richard Towle, of Bancroft, pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting a bull moose, unlawfully possessing and transporting the moose, and using and permitting a void licence to be displayed. He was fined a total of $6,000 and his hunting licence was suspended for two years.
Craig Towle, of Cavan, pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting the bull and cow moose that Lionel Towle had illegally killed. He was fined a total of $2,000 and his hunting licence was suspended for one year.
Deane Card, of Bancroft, pleaded guilty to the same charges, was fined a total of $2,000 and had his hunting licence suspended for one year.
Randy Wood, of Bancroft, pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting the bull moose that Lionel Towle had illegally killed and making false statements to a conservation officer. He was fined a total of $4,000 and his hunting licence was suspended for one year.
Paul Varty, of Cameron, pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting the bull moose Lionel Towle illegally killed and making a false statement to a conservation officer. He was fined $3,500 and his hunting licence was suspended for one year.
Paul Neath, of Stouffville, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was fined a total of $1,500.
An eighth man pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting the bull and cow moose that Lionel Towle had illegally killed. He was fined a total of $1,500 and his hunting licence was suspended for one year.
All moose meat seized during the investigation was forfeited to the Crown.
The court heard that, on October 24, 2008, while on patrol during the moose hunt, conservation officers conducted a routine camp check of the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp and spoke with Lionel Towle at the camp. Lionel Towle had four moose quarters from a bull moose he claimed to have killed during their hunt. Lionel advised that his brother, Richard, had tagged the moose and it was the only moose that the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp had killed during the hunt.
On further investigation, the remains of two additional adult moose were discovered. DNA samples were collected and the ministry’s canine unit was brought in and found two spent 30-06 casings near the kill site.
The investigation revealed that on opening day of the moose hunt, Paul Varty shot a bull moose and the camp used its only adult moose tag. A couple of days later, Lionel Towle shot an additional bull and cow moose for which the party had no licences. The Bear Shanty camp re-used the original bull tag on the second bull and gave away the cow to a hunt camp located south of the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp.
Over 30 officers from five different Ministry of Natural Resources districts were involved in the investigation.
Members of the camp who accepted the cow moose from Bear Shanty Hunt Camp will appear in court on July 7, 2009, to answer to charges laid against them.
Justice of the Peace Barry Moran heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Bancroft, on June 2, 2009.
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).
Mike Ladouceur, Bancroft District, 613-332-3940, Ext. 238
Shane Brownlee, Bancroft District, 613-332-3940, Ext. 247
