Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry release
THUNDER BAY -- Two Thunder Bay area men have been fined $9,500 for hunting violations.
Leonard Lazinski, of Murillo, pleaded guilty and was fined $4,000 for careless use of a firearm, $1,000 for trespassing to hunt and $1,000 for discharging a firearm from a vehicle. He also received a one-year hunting suspension and must successfully complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course before being able to purchase another hunting licence.
David Bragg, of Thunder Bay, pleaded guilty and was fined $3,000 for trespassing to hunt and $500 for failing to wear hunter orange. He also received a one-year hunting suspension.
Court heard that on November 5, 2017, conservation officers from the ministry’s Thunder Bay enforcement unit conducted a deer decoy operation on private property in O’Connor Township, west of Thunder Bay. Deer decoys were set up to target unsafe hunting practices and address public complaints about trespassing in that area.
Upon observing the decoy, Lazinski stopped his truck on the road. Bragg exited the passenger side of the vehicle, went to the fence line of the field and fired a shot at the decoy. From his truck, Lazinski unsafely shot his rifle in Bragg’s direction toward the decoy. Both men’s shots were fired in the direction of the property owner‘s hunting blind. Bragg was not wearing hunter orange.
Justice of the Peace Bernard Caron heard the case against Bragg on April 4, 2018, and Justice of the Peace Anna Gibbons heard the case against Lazinski on August 1, 2018. Both cases were heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay.
Hunters are reminded that they must obtain permission from the landowner before hunting on private land and that it is illegal and unsafe to discharge a firearm without due care and attention for people and property.
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.
