December 4, 2013
The Ministry of Natural Resources checked 6,500 hunters during November deer hunts across southern Ontario. Conservation officers laid 243 charges and issued 435 warnings under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
Enforcement officers placed special emphasis on regulations pertaining to safe hunting practices, including wearing hunter orange. They found some hunters wearing an inadequate amount of orange or none at all.
Charges and warnings were issued for the following violations:
· hunting without carrying a licence
· hunting without having a licence
· hunting at night
· possessing a firearm at night
· having loaded firearms in a vehicle
· failing to properly attach a seal to deer
· failing to provide the required information on a seal
· trespassing for the purpose of hunting
· interfering with lawful hunting
· failing to wear hunter orange while hunting
Charges and warnings were also issued under the Liquor Licence Act and the Off Road Vehicle Act. Officers are investigating a further 108 matters that will likely result in additional charges.
For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2013-2014 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at ontario.ca/hunting.
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).