Fines of $5,000 and Suspensions for Illegal Cow Moose Cover Up
Five men belonging to a Bancroft area hunting camp have been charged with 13 offences, fined $5,000 and received hunting licence suspensions.
The men, members of the Limerick Lake Hunt and Fish Club Camp #13, pleaded guilty to numerous offences under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The offences were related to the poaching of a cow moose off the Old Hastings Road in the Township of Faraday, Hastings County, by the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp during the 2008 moose season.
Edward Dowd, of Mallorytown, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing and transporting the cow moose as well as using another person’s licence. He was fined a total of $1,750 for these offences, and his hunting licence was suspended for one year.
Stephen Dowd, of Gananoque, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing the cow moose, as well as allowing someone else to use his cow moose seal. He was fined a total of $750.
Richard Huck, of Rockport, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing and transporting the cow moose. He was fined a total of $1,000 and his hunting licence was suspended for one year.
Michael Truesdell, of Gananoque, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was fined a total of $1,000 and had his hunting licence suspended for one year.
John Peter, of Gananoque, also pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting the cow moose. He was fined a total of $500.
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 check of a group known as the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp. The group had four quarters from a bull moose that it claimed to have killed during the hunt. Camp members advised that it was the only moose that the Bear Shanty Hunt Camp had killed during the hunt.
Further investigation found the remains of two additional adult moose. Officers found that Bear Shanty Hunt Camp had killed two bulls and a cow when only licensed to kill one bull moose. An illegal bull and cow moose were killed on October 22, 2008. Bear Shanty attempted to cover up the illegal bull moose by re-using the original bull tag, then approached Camp 13 members later in the day to see if they would like to claim the cow moose.
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
