Men charged, fined for hunting moose near Ignace with no licence

Two Petrolia men have been fined and received hunting licence suspensions for careless use of firearms and illegal moose hunting.

Robert Van Vliet pleaded guilty and was fined $3,000 for careless shooting on a public road and $2,000 for moose hunting without a licence. Court heard that he has had previous convictions and unpaid fines for hunting offences.

Corey Casey also pleaded guilty and was fined $2,500 for careless shooting on a public road and $1,500 for moose hunting without a licence.

Both men also received one-year hunting suspensions and are required to re-take the Ontario Hunter Education Course before acquiring new hunting licences.

The court heard that on October 13, 2015, conservation officers placed a bull moose decoy on Bonheur Road, east of Ignace.

Van Vliet and Casey exited their vehicle and shot at the decoy on the road. The men did not possess a bull moose game seal and failed to meet party hunting requirements. The road had been closed off by officers once Van Vliet and Casey’s vehicle had entered the area, to ensure the safety of the public and the officers.  

Justice of the Peace Danalyn MacKinnon heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Ignace, on June 14, 2016.

The public is reminded that it is illegal and unsafe to discharge a firearm from, down or across a public road.

For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/hunting.  

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).