Two Ministry of Natural Resource investigations lead to multiple fines in Thunder Bay area

Two hunting-related investigations in the Thunder Bay area have led to fines.

On October 16, 2023, an individual from Bowmanville was hunting moose along Marline Lake Road in Hippel Township, approximately 100 kilometres north of Nipigon.

An investigation revealed that the hunter shot their high-powered rifle across and down a roadway toward a pair of moose.

He later fired toward a moose on top of a hill without a safe backstop, posing a risk to public safety.

Justice of the Peace Nancy Tulloch heard the case remotely in the Ontario Court of Justice of Thunder Bay, on February 24.

As a result, Nickolas Caravan has been fined $7,000 and has been issued a five-year hunting ban.

He is also required to successfully complete both the Ontario Hunter Education Course and the Canadian Firearms Safety Course before reapplying for any hunting licences.

On October 17, 2023, conservation officers with the Thunder Bay Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on Highway 11/17 near Kakabeka Falls.

Officers inspected a cow moose that was harvested in Wildlife Management Unit 15B.

Officers conducted interviews and determined that the moose was harvested without following party hunting rules.

Through an investigation, officers confirmed one of the hunters lacked immediate and reliable communication with the other hunters when the moose was harvested.

Justice of the Peace Jerry M. Woods Jr. heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay, on May 7.

As a result, the following individuals are facing fines:

• Carlos DeSousa from Toronto has pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting cow moose without a licence and was fined $5,000
• Calvin Fors of Thunder Bay has pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife and was fined $1,500
• Larry Moore of Thunder Bay has pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife and was fined $1,000
• Ben Nurmela of Thunder Bay has pleaded guilty to unlawfully invalidating a tag on a killed animal and was fined $500