Two area men fined for hunting a cow moose without a valid tag

MNR News Release

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A Sturgeon Falls man and a North Bay man have been fined a total of $5,000 for illegally hunting a cow moose without a validation tag and providing false information to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer.

Stephane Lajeunesse of Sturgeon Falls pleaded guilty to illegally killing a cow moose and was fined $3,500. He was fined an additional $1,000 for making a false statement to a conservation officer. His firearm was seized. It will be returned to him once his fines are paid.

John Lajeunesse of North Bay also pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a conservation officer and was fined $500.

The court heard that on October 9, 2010, Stephane Lajeunesse killed a cow moose in Hobbs Township, north of River Valley, in Wildlife Management Unit 41. He was licenced to harvest a calf moose. When questioned by a conservation officer, both he and John Lajeunesse denied any knowledge of the moose. They both later admitted to the killing of the moose.

The moose, which was seized during the investigation, was ordered forfeited to the Crown.

Justice of the Peace Gilles J. Lecouteur heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sturgeon Falls, on June 20, 2011.

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

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