Illegal bear hunting leads to stiff fine
Monday, January 14, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
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NEWS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
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Elliot Lake couple receives $5,000 in fines for illegal hunting
(January 14, 2013) -An Elliot Lake couple received $5,000 in fines as well as hunting licence suspensions for illegal bear hunting and attempting to cover up their actions.
Larry Gordon pleaded guilty to hunting a black bear without a licence, unlawfully using another person’s licence, unlawfully abandoning flesh suitable for food and obstructing a conservation officer.
He was fined $4,500 and received a three-year hunting suspension.
Karen Howorth pleaded guilty to allowing someone to use her licence and obstructing a conservation officer.
She was fined $500 fine and received a one-year hunting suspension.
In addition, the gun used in the incident, the bear hide, and the meat were permanently forfeited to the ministry.
Court heard that on October 10, 2012, Larry Gordon illegally hunted a black bear without a licence.
He then had his spouse Karen Howorth purchase a bear licence the following day. He attached her game seal to the bear and notched it to indicate the bear was shot on October 12.
He later took the bear hide and only a small portion of meat and abandoned the rest of the carcass in the forest.
When a conservation officer began investigating the abandoned bear carcass, both Gordon and Howorth provided false statements in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
Justice of the Peace Pierre LeClerc heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Elliot Lake, on December 19, 2012.
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).
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Gater 1/14/2013 12:21:26 PM ReportGood job C.o's. The brutal abuse of OUR Resources must not go un punished..
Finally It looks like there are some Judges/ J.P's who are up to speed on punishing these abuses..
Hopefully the fines will at least cover the cost of the hard work done by the C.O's in their investigations and the court costs..
" A Poacher is a Thief "
phantom 1/14/2013 3:19:58 PM ReportI totally agree! A poacher is a THIEF...especially when they allow the meat to spoil! I pay every year for my fishing and hunting licences and have never taken an animal illegally or over limited. These people whether Canadian or from any other country should be banned for life from using and harvesting OUR natural resources!
Greeky3 1/14/2013 4:27:49 PM ReportI will give credit to the CO's for this capture and charges in this case.
What about the broadcast on the CBC the other day. A man from Sudbury was in his local butcher shop when the owner of the shop stated that an aboriginal man had brought in his 19th moose for butchering.
Where can one man use the meat from 19 moose? Or are they being sold for profit?
I myself quit hunting as I received one tag in 14 years of hunting. This is sad that our natural resources are being depleted in this manner. Are the CO's helpless to prosecute offender like this?
I also realise native people have the right to hunt but 19 moose in one season what will the forests be like without big game?
Gater 1/14/2013 4:59:38 PM ReportGeeky- I did not hear that about the 19 moose for one person. And I also don't be grudge the rights to the Natives or Metis. BUT that if true is absolutely brutal..
Does not to fall into the culture of the 1st Nations or Metis and their respect for Mother earth.. They must manage their resource users also .. Or there will nothing left for anyones children. Then we can all sit around and watch Discovery channel and blame each other when OUR resources are gone.. All Our kids will be the big losers.. Think about it.. but not to long. Time is not on our side...
kmw 1/14/2013 5:24:54 PM ReportOBVIOUSLY A NATIVE TAKING 19 MOOSE INTO A BUTCHER IS SELLING IT OR TRADING IT FOR SERVICES. I MYSELF AM NATIVE AND ONLY SHOOT ONE MOOSE A YEAR, AND ONE IF IM LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OUT HUNTING BECAUSE OF WORK AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. IT IS DEFINITELY WRONG TO BE KILLING 19 MOOSE, I DO AGREE THAT ANY NATIVES HUNTING SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO KILL ENOUGH TO FEED THEIR FAMILY, ITS TOO BAD BECAUSE THESE KIND OF PEOPLE ARE GIVING A LOT OF NATIVES A BAD NAME
Sudsy 1/14/2013 5:26:35 PM Reportc`mon Greeky you shouldn`t believe all hear say information, if you have ever hunted moose you would know that putting the cross hairs on one is difficult enough let alone 19! there a little diffrent then spruce grouse;)
If you want to get solid facts to post on here maybe you should call the MNR and ask them the amount of moose they have found in north eastern ontario rotting in the bush because of greedy trigger happy MOFOS had no tag or the wrong tag.
MrJWall 1/14/2013 6:37:44 PM ReportGoog for them!!! Fines should be worse and every bit of food seized from their homes! You kill it you use it for food! They obviously didn't need for food! Its such a shame to kill these animals for the sake of using a gun or bow--ridiculous--go to an F-in grocery store!
Leave animals alone that have young also!
Gater 1/14/2013 10:05:15 PM ReportPoachers are from Elliot lake AGAIN..
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