Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont.

A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges.

The court heard that between 2020 and 2022, conservation officers, along with the Ministry of Natural Resources Intelligence and Investigations Services, conducted a special investigation into illegal moose hunting activities in a remote location north of Pickle Lake.

An Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources conservation enforcement vehicle with lights flashing. (File photo/Supplied/Ministry of Natural Resources)

"As a result of the investigation, it was found that Paul Markewycz unlawfully discharged a firearm from a motorboat at a bull moose on the Otoskwin River," the MNR said in a news release Friday.

"The court heard that Miroslaw Markewycz invalidated his tag on an illegal moose harvested by another member of his hunt group when he was not present."

Michael Lamanna, Piotr Markewycz, and Vitaliy Shevchenko were all found to have made false and misleading statements to conservation officers during the investigation.

Paul Markewycz of Mississauga pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm from a motorboat. He received $20,000 in fines and a three-year hunting license suspension.

"The court took into consideration his prior big game hunting violation record when imposing the penalty," the release said.

Miroslaw Markewycz of Mississauga pleaded guilty to unlawfully invalidating a tag with respect to an animal killed by another person. He received $2,000 in fines and a two-year hunting license suspension.

Piotr Markewycz of Mississauga pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer. He received $6,000 in fines and a one-year hunting license suspension.

Vitaliy Shevchenko of Mississauga pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer. He received $5,000 in fines and a one-year hunting license suspension.

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Michael Lamanna of Milton pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer. He received a $4,000 fine and a one-year hunting license suspension.

Justice of the Peace Nancy Tulloch heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, in Thunder Bay on Dec. 2.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, click here.