Two Ontario hunters fined $10,000 for moose poaching

THUNDER BAY — Two hunters have been fined a total of $10,000 for hunting violations for an incident in October 2019 in northwestern Ontario.

According to a news release issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on Friday, March 5, the moose poaching incident occurred near Long Legged Lake.

The ministry said one of their conservation officers observed one of the hunters, Jason Riel, shoot a cow moose from a motorboat which was operated by the other hunter, John Stabler, 50 kilometres west of Ear Falls.

Further investigation revealed that the two individuals did not have immediate and reliable means of communication with the tag holder in their party.

Riel, of Douro-Dummer, pleaded guilty and was fined $3,500 for hunting moose without a licence and $3,000 for discharging a firearm from a motorboat. He was also suspended from hunting in Ontario for four years.

His case was heard in Red Lake court on Nov. 25, 2020.

Stabler of Lakefield pleaded guilty and was fined $2,000 for hunting moose without a licence and $1,500 for discharging a firearm from a motorboat. He was also suspended from hunting in Ontario for two years.

His case was heard in Red Lake on Feb. 10, 2021.