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Hunter charged after shooting moose with high-powered rifle from a moving boat

The hunter shot at the moose decoy with a high-powered rifle at the same time he was operating a moving boat
bull moose adobestock_93928765 2017
Bull moose. File photo

Here's a case the MNRF calls a dangerous and illegal use of firearms.

Jonathan Isabelle of Kapuskasing pleaded guilty to hunting bull moose without a licence and unlawfully discharging a firearm from a boat. He received $4,000 in fines and a two-year hunting licence suspension.

Marc Moreau of Kapuskasing pleaded guilty to hunting bull moose without a licence and unlawfully having a loaded firearm in a boat. He received $2,615 in fines and a one-year hunting licence suspension.

Martin Larochelle of Opasatika pleaded guilty to unlawfully having a loaded firearm in a boat. He received $615 in fines.

Court heard that on October 10, 2020, conservation officers were conducting a moose decoy operation on the Opasatika River north of the town Opasatika, west of Kapuskasing.

The moose decoy was situated on a commonly used river system, and where conservation officers controlled traffic in the vicinity.

Isabelle shot at the moose decoy with a high-powered rifle at the same time he was operating the boat, while Moreau was in possession of a loaded high-powered rifle and aiming at the moose decoy from the same moving vessel. Larochelle was also seen having a loaded high-powered rifle in the same vessel.

Justice of the Peace Francois Cloutier heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kapuskasing, on August 24, 2021.