Men handed fines and licence suspensions

MNR News Release

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Three Gananoque area men have been fined a total of $3,500, and two of them had their hunting licences suspended, after all pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting an illegal moose and then leaving it to spoil.

David D. Allen, 44, has been fined $500 for hunting a bull moose without a licence. He was fined an additional $1,000 and lost his moose hunting privileges for one year for allowing the moose to spoil. Allen’s seized rifle will be returned after the fine is paid.

Bruce R. Bishop, 64, has been fined $1,000 and prohibited from holding a moose licence for one year for his role in allowing the moose to spoil.

Jeffrey M. Bishop, 41, has been fined $1,000 for allowing the moose to spoil.

Court heard that on October 16, 2008, the men were moose hunting on the Roosevelt Road near Temagami. David Allen and Jeffrey Bishop shot at a cow moose, for which they had a valid licence. The moose was hit and ran into the bush. David Allen fired again at what he believed was the same moose but discovered he had inadvertently shot a small bull moose instead.

David Allen was talked out of reporting his mistake to conservation officers by Bruce Bishop. Bishop then attempted but failed to find another hunter to illegally tag the bull moose. The group eventually took the legally killed cow moose and left the bull to rot.

Acting on a tip to the TIPS-MNR line, conservation officers, assisted by the ministry’s canine unit from North Bay, located the moose carcass and recovered evidence on October 20, 2008. Additional information from the public focused the investigation on the Bishop party.

Justice of the Peace T.A. Hodgins heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Temiskaming Shores, on March 26, 2009.

The ministry reminds members of the public that if they inadvertently commit an offence they should contact the ministry as soon as possible. Officers will take into account prompt disclosures and mitigating circumstances before deciding whether or not to lay charges.

To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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