Two men fined for violations while hunting wild turkeys

TWO NEW HAMBURG MEN have been fined a total of $2,250 for wild turkey hunting violations.

One pleaded guilty and was fined $500 for hunting a game bird without a licence and $500 for failing to report the harvest of a wild turkey. The other also pleaded guilty and was fined $750 for attaching his seal to wildlife killed by another person and $500 for failing to report the harvest of a wild turkey.

Justice of the Peace James Ziegler heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kitchener, on June 21, 2017.

The court heard that on April 25, 2017, conservation officers and the canine unit were patrolling in Wilmot Township when they heard a gunshot. The officers stoped the men and conducted a compliance inspection. The wild turkey was forfeited to the Crown.

Subsequently, the officers determined, with the assistance of the Investigations Services Unit, that the two men also each shot and killed a wild turkey on May 14, 2017. Neither man submitted the mandatory harvest report on the following day.

Following the conviction, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry issued a reminder that it is illegal to party hunt for wild turkey, and that game seals must be attached immediately with the date and time notched at the kill site. As well, it is mandatory for successful turkey hunters to submit a turkey harvest report to the ministry.